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.
Also Read: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Smashes 400-metre Hurdles World Record
Before Paris Olympics
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.