The 400-meter hurdles world record holder and Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is creating quite a stir with her recent track and field performances. At the recent Oxy Invitational in Los Angeles, she won two individual short-distance events but withdrew from many 400-meter sprint races this outdoor season at the last minute.
Her withdrawal from the 400-meter hurdles, has sparked a wave of skepticism and criticism throughout the track and field community. It is to be noted that when she made her Olympic season debut in 2023, her fans were not impressed, as she missed half of the season due to an injury.
Champion persona backfires
This season, McLaughlin-Levrone’s 400-meter hurdle performance has come under scrutiny, particularly when she withdrew from the 2023 World Championships. Only twice, in June 2023, has she completed the distance internationally, recording impressive times of 49.71 and 49.51.
Despite being among the top 10 fastest women in history with a 48.74 at the 2023 U.S. titles, her reluctance to compete in her main event led fans to speculate.
McLaughlin-Levrone reaffirmed her intention to compete in the 400-meter hurdles, as did her coach, Bobby Kersee. Moreover, the athlete stated that she wished to look into the flat 400m without compromising her dedication to the hurdles. Her incredible 400-meter success from the previous year, along with her unmatched victory in the hurdles, demonstrate her versatility and her ability to change the course of track and field history.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the reigning 400-metre hurdles champion, is like a comet. She blazes onto the scene and disappears after shattering a record. Appearing at the Paris Olympics the undisputed favourite to retain her crown, she didn’t disappoint. She clinched gold in the 400-metre hurdles with a time of 50.37 seconds, breaking the world record for the sixth time. She picked up another gold with a blistering 47.70 split that helped the USA win the 4×400-metre relay in 3:15.27, just 0.1-second shy of the world record.
And then she went off the radar.
Not signed on for Lausanne Diamond League
Her name doesn’t appear on the list of competitors for the Lausanne Diamond League 400-metre hurdles to be run on August 22, says Essentially Sports.
Call it her Post-Olympics Escape Act II. She disappeared after winning gold in the 400-metre hurdles and 4×400-metre relay at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, too, spending some time away from the track.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s breaks from competition are part of a deliberate strategy crafted by her coach, Bobby Kersee. Kersee prioritizes her long-term health and performance, aiming to peak at major championships like the Olympics and World Championships.
She hasn’t participated in the Diamond League since 2019.
She also missed the 2023 World Championships due to a knee injury.
Her return to competition was gradual. She competed in the 100-metre hurdles at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 20, then won the 200-metre hurdles and impressed in the 100-meter hurdles at the Oxy Invitational on May 5. Her long-awaited return to the 400-metre hurdles came on May 31 at the Edwin Moses Legends Meet in Atlanta, where she ran 52.70 seconds to set the world lead and qualify for the Paris Olympics.
Mixed reactions
McLaughlin-Levrone’s absence from the Lausanne Diamond League has elicited mixed reactions from fans. Some accuse her of hiding away between big competitions, but others say she needs to rest. There’s no denying that, taking breaks between major events, her performance has consistently improved. At the LA Grand Prix, she surprised many by winning the 200-metre with a personal best of 22.07, defeating a strong field that included the 200-metre Paris Olympics gold medallist Gabby Thomas.
Her coach, Bobby Kersee, has been open about his strategy of limiting overseas competitions. In a conversation with Citius Mag, Kersee explained, “I get criticized for not going to Europe but I coach United States athletes to put them on teams. … It’s kind of difficult for us to go to Europe and base camp over there and then come back home and then make our American teams and stay healthy.”
Prize money
Besides, the Diamond League isn’t as rewarding as what McLauughlin-Levrone has signed on for.
She is the first track star signed on by the four-time US Olympic champion Michael Johnson for his Grand Slam Track Contest starting in April next year. The winner of each Slam group will win $100,000 in prize money.
The ultimate prize in any Diamond League season is the series title, which comes with the iconic Diamond Trophy and $30,000 in prize money.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s absence from the Lausanne Diamond League offers other athletes an opportunity to shine.
Fans will be looking at Femke Bol from the Netherlands. She won bronze medals in the 400-metre hurdles and 4×400-metre relay, helping her country finish third in the relay, at the Paris Olympics. The rising star, according to her coach, may be seen in the 800 metres, too, in the future. Some interpret it as a strategy to maximize medal chances in view of McLaughlin-Levrone’s dominance in the 400-metre hurdles.
Issues with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s 2024 Season: Coach of Track and Field Who Has Been Severely Criticized Comes Clean: “Hard for Us”
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone broke the Olympic entrance mark for the 2024 Paris Games by winning the women’s 400-meter hurdles in an amazing 52.70 seconds at the Edwin Moses Legends Meet on May 31. Her coach, Bobby Kersee, has come under fire from fans who feel that she should have skipped the European Diamond League meets despite having a successful season.
“I enjoy racing as much at home as possible because I appreciate America. I receive criticism for not traveling to Europe, but I train athletes from the United States and place them on teams.” Kersee quoted to essentially sports.
After a two-year break, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, 24, had a spectacular comeback at the Oxy Invitational in May. She broke records by finishing the 200-meter race in 22.38 seconds and the 100-meter hurdles in 12.71 seconds.
Her inconsistent performing style upset her admirers despite her amazing performances. But despite the criticism, McLaughlin-Levrone discovered a supporter in the form of renowned sportsman Michael Johnson.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s path surpasses chances to advance to the Paris Olympics
Fans who were excited about Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s performance were disappointed by her withdrawal from the 2023 World Championships owing to a knee ailment. Even though she had a great comeback and finished second in the Mt. SAC Relays, her achievement was credited to the team. The frustration of a fan regarding Sydney’s rare race appearances was mirrored, highlighting Sydney’s ability to raise awareness of the sport with her attractive presence.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the American phenomenon who is hurdling, is the center of attention as the countdown to the Paris Olympics approaches. Her coach Bobby Kersee has made it very apparent that McLaughlin-Levrone’s heart beats for the 400-meter hurdles, and there are just 54 days remaining to go.
Her constant devotion to this event is evident as she honed her talents for the U.S. Olympic Trials and beyond. Kersee states unequivocally, “I think the 400m hurdles are Sydney’s love, and so that’s the number one event.” The track and field community is looking forward to her thrilling performances and seeing her talent on the Olympic stage.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone makes a startling claim about breaking 400-metre hurdles below-50-second mark
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the current Olympic and world champion, has broken records in almost every track appearance, making her one of the world’s strongest track and field competitors today.
With four Olympic gold medals and four World Championship medals– three gold and one silver — she is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished American athletes. She is also the first female hurdler in history to complete the 400-metre hurdles in less than 52 seconds.
However, the New Jersey native has yet to break the under-50 second mark. That’s a milestone her supporters have been expecting to cross for quite some time now.
About this, McLaughlin-Levrone said: “That definitely is on my mind for sure. An athlete would naturally want to do that. Whether that happens or not is up to God. I’m just going to work for it, I can’t put a number on it.”
She added: “It may be me, or maybe an athlete in five or 10 years from now. So, I’m just going to continue to try to be the best I can be and if it comes it comes, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. But I think for me it’s just the desire to improve.”
The American hurdling legend is known for having broken the women’s 400-metre hurdles a record four times. She started by breaking the record set by fellow American legend Dalilah Muhammad in 2021, winning the Olympic trials in 51.90 seconds. She then broke her own world record with a time of 50.37 seconds, setting a new record, defending her hurdles championship in the August Olympics in Paris.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone made history by beating the 400-metre hurdles world record for the fifth time at the US Olympic trials, finishing with a performance record of 50.65 seconds.
The 24-year-old athlete reduced 0.03 seconds off her previous mark, which she established two years ago at Eugene’s Hayward Field, and won a spot on the US Olympic team for the upcoming Paris Olympics.
About her achievement, McLaughlin-Levrone said: “Honestly, I wasn’t expecting that time… Knowing that there is more there and there is more to fix just is a confidence booster heading into Paris.”
Despite only running the 400m hurdles once this year before the Olympic trials, McLaughlin-Levrone effortlessly got through her heats and advanced to the final round.
On defending her Olympic title
McLaughlin-Levrone will now compete at the Paris Olympics as one of the stars of the US team and a strong favourite to defend her championship title from three years ago, with Dutch athlete Femke Bol expected to give the most difficult competition.
“I would love to dip under 50 at some point… I don’t know if that’s this year or if that’s next year. Just always chipping away, seeing what’s possible and continuing to improve the race… There are so many different ways to run it and I feel like every time I’m on the track, I’m figuring out what’s the best way,” she declared.
McLaughlin-Levrone currently has seven of the top ten fastest 400m hurdles times in history.
In related news, Anna Cockrell and Jasmine Jones finished second and third at the US trials, with personal best times of 52.64 and 52.77, respectively. Both qualified for the Paris Games.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone put on a strong effort in the women’s 400 metres, finishing 0.34 seconds faster than Olympic champion M. Paulino (who finished the Paris Olympics in 48.17 seconds).
That said, McLaughlin-Levrone’s race was unofficial, unlike Paulino’s run in the Brussels Diamond League final. Relentlessly, she returned to the track to win the women’s 200-metre race with a timing of 22.40 seconds.
Even though McLaughlin-Levrone had a cramp the day before, she knew going into the Allianz Memorial Van Damme meet that neither of her incredible performances would officially count, and she still competed with her signature drive.
She couldn’t resist taking part in today’s 200-metre sprint at Brussels’ King Baudouin Stadium, despite the difficulties. Why does she push herself past her comfort zone? Sydney claims that it’s her steadfast love of track and field. She will enter an elite league the next season thanks to her extreme effort.
McLaughlin-Levrone is heading for Grand Slam Track
At the upcoming Grand Slam Track, Sydney will compete in two individual events: the 400-metre hurdles, her signature event, and the 400-metre flat.
This implies that the two-time Olympian will make a total of four slams on the track. The fact that one of these slams will be held in her hometown of Los Angeles just heightens the anticipation; the 25-year-old is looking forward to the challenge.
Talking about the Grand Slam Track, she stated; “I think it’s just gonna be really cool to see that dynamic and see the sport grow in popularity”
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone made history once more at the Olympics in Paris this year when she broke the world record in the women’s 400-metre hurdles for the sixth time.
She also came close to breaking Sanya Richards-Ross’ American record in the women’s 400 metres. She came agonizingly close to setting a record in July last year, ending just 0.04 seconds short.
Sydney has four more chances to break through that barrier at the Grand Slam Track.
