Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone isn’t just an athlete; she’s a force of nature, a track titan who has completely rewritten the rulebook for the 400m hurdles. At only 25 years old, she’s shattered the world record an unbelievable six times, with her latest jaw-dropping mark being a staggering 50.37 seconds at the Paris 2024 Olympics, securing her second straight Olympic gold. With four Olympic golds to her name—including two in the 4x400m relay—and a 2022 World Championship title, she feels truly untouchable.
In Paris, she left Dutch star Femke Bol nearly two seconds behind, a margin that felt like an absolute eternity. Even at the Grand Slam Track (GST) in Kingston, Jamaica, in September 2024, she dominated the long hurdles, posting a world-leading 400m hurdles time. Rivals like Anna Cockrell, who snagged silver in Paris with a personal best of 51.87, are left scrambling just to keep up. But what keeps a champion like Sydney burning with such intensity when she’s already torched all the competition?
In a rare, candid moment, talking to The New York Times, McLaughlin-Levrone revealed her incredible driving force: “There’s always something I can be doing better.” With her rivals no longer her primary challenge, she’s racing her own shadow, obsessively chasing even the smallest incremental gains. “There’s always someone striving to be where you are,” she wisely acknowledged, understanding the immense pressure of being the one everyone else is gunning for.
Yet, her focus is laser-sharp: “When I am at practice, it’s figuring out how I can be better than Sydney was yesterday.” Even when monotony threatens or motivation dips, she finds genuine joy in the daily grind. “I get to do what I love every day and quite literally race a clock,” she shared. This relentless self-competition fuels her, turning every practice session into a personal proving ground.
But how does she sustain that intense fire when the scoreboard already screams perfection? Now, as she meticulously prepares for GST Philadelphia, Sydney is boldly stepping into entirely new territory, taking on the 100m flat and 100m hurdles—her first professional races ever in these events! “I’m starting to kind of like this sprinting thing,” she said, her voice brimming with a mix of excitement and genuine curiosity.
This isn’t just a side quest; it’s a powerful testament to her refusal to simply coast on past glory. But can she redefine herself yet again, mastering these new events while still outrunning the formidable shadow of her greatness? Although she is gearing up with a new approach to her training.
Sydney gearing from 400m Hurdles Dominance to 100m Challenges
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the undisputed queen of the 400m hurdles, is seriously shaking things up as she gears up for GST Philadelphia! But now, she’s diving headfirst into uncharted waters, taking on the 100m flat and 100m hurdles, marking her very first professional races in these events. “It’s been a shift these past few weeks,” she revealed, her voice practically buzzing with curiosity.
She’s meticulously honing her sprint mechanics, perfecting block starts, and finessing her hurdle technique—skills that were less critical in her signature long hurdles but are vital for her bold new challenge. So, why exactly would someone tweak a formula that’s already so incredibly winning? To crack the code of these shorter sprints, Sydney isn’t just relying on natural talent; she’s studying.
She’s poring over video footage of elite sprinters and even leaning on the expertise of Trayvon Bromell, a two-time world bronze medalist and a good friend of her husband, former NFL receiver Andre Levrone Jr. “He was giving me a few pointers on how to set up in the blocks,” she shared.
She’s diligently dissected Bromell’s starts, meticulously focusing on shin angles, soaking up every single detail. “It’s fascinating getting to learn something I didn’t know before,” she admitted, her hunger for growth practically palpable. Can this fresh, inquisitive approach unlock even more greatness for Sydney in Philadelphia?
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