Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone crossed the Stade de France finish line on August 8 with her sister-in-law proudly holding a tiara, fitting for the queen of the 400-meter hurdles. Just a day after turning 25, Sydney turned heads by defending her Olympic crown at the Paris Olympics. She not only retained her title but also shattered the world record for the sixth time, crossing the finish line in a blistering 50.37 seconds. It was a race that proved she was still the queen of the track.
But here’s the kicker: Her knee injury had been a major setback, and her last-minute withdrawals kept the headlines buzzing. But now, after her stunning performance in Paris, Sydney has also served up the perfect comeback to her critics!
In an interview with 11Alive, three-time Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone revealed the hard truth behind her seemingly effortless performances. “Execution. I think we prepare all year for this,” she shared. “My coach gets me ready for these moments, and we practice all the scenarios, so it’s really just executing. It may look easy, but I promise you it hurts, and it’s a lot of focus and hard work.” Sydney’s candid insight highlights the intense preparation and dedication required to make elite competition appear so effortless.
Her answer is the ultimate clapback to all the naysayers who had doubts about her absences on the track. After her stunning Tokyo win, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was notably low-key, showing up for just one World Athletics Championship in 2022 and a single Diamond League event in 2023. She even had to pull out of the 2023 World Championships due to a pesky knee injury.
This has led many to doubt her comeback. A prime example of this skepticism emerged when she announced her plans for the post-Paris Olympics, only to face a wave of backlash from fans who were quick to question her intentions and timing!
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone teaming up with Michael Johnson post-Paris had critics raising eyebrows, questioning her sporadic competition habits!
A few nights before the US Olympic trials in Eugene, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was causing a stir in Los Angeles. She was teaming up with Michael Johnson to launch the Grand Slam Track Contest, a major new event in the track world. Sydney was beaming with optimism, ready to face any hurdle—literal or metaphorical. Yet, some fans remained skeptical.
As the first athlete signed by the Grand Slam Track, Sydney will be a key player in the GST, competing in four Slams each year. She’s set to receive a solid annual base pay plus a tempting $100,000 for each Slam win. Sydney was excited about the contest, saying, “It’s very professionally put together and I really feel like it’s going to elevate the platforms of the athletes that compete more than once every four years at the Olympics.”
Despite her enthusiasm, fans aren’t entirely sold. Since her Tokyo 400m hurdles victory, Sydney’s appearances have been few and far between. Critics point out that she tends to show up only before major championships, such as the 2023 Diamond League. “Does she know she might actually have to race?” one fan joked, questioning her commitment to the Grand Slam Track. Another fan remarked, “Britton Wilson has run like one race the whole year. Sydney has raced one Diamond League in the last 5 years.” There was concern about whether Sydney would stick with all four Slams given her history of skipping events and dealing with injuries.
With Sydney’s recent focus on avoiding jet lag and her limited appearances since Tokyo, some fans even threw shade. One cheeky comment was, “Better not have any races in Europe or she’ll tweak her hamstring a week out.” So, will Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone show up for all four Slams when GST kicks off? What are your thoughts on her clapback at the Paris Olympics, despite these doubts? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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