“The world needs more Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone vs. Femke Bol.” This is the sentiment that resonated with many fans on the r/trackandfield subreddit. Sydney vs. Bol is not a new rivalry on the track by any means. The clash has been brewing for years now, and Sydney has been dominating it like there is no competition. Every time Femke Bol inches closer, Sydney does something to cement her status. Bol entered the Olympics with a PR of 50.95 in 400 mH – Sydney’s 50.65 WR in sight. The former shattered the world record again! But now that the two could have a clash at the LA Grand Slam Track again, a track and field legend will be keeping an eye. And what’s his take?
Well, the answer lies in the allies of X, formerly Twitter. “Can we get Femke v Syd at the Los Angeles @GrandSlamTrack @MJGold ” was the question of a fan on X after Bol clocked a 52.46s– meeting record in Rabat Diamond League. Replying to this, another user wrote, “Bro don’t ask that. Bol’s agents and the diamond league are probably paying her not to go to GST. By the way it wouldn’t be a Syd vs Bol because I’m pretty sure Syd plan is to do long sprints in LA going up against Paulino, Naser, and Gabby. Where Bol will be doing long hurdles.” While there is no official confirmation from the 400 mH world record holder, she is trying the 100 m H in Philly, so long sprints in LA could be on the cards.
Reading this, track and field legend Michael Johnson entered the thread only to write, “If we’re honest, we know how that ends right? Would love to have Femke though. Femke vs Anna Cockrell and others is more competitive. Syd in Short Hurdles and Long Sprints is ideal, unless she’s going for another 400h WR.” Since 2021, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has broken the 400m hurdles world record multiple times, starting with a 51.46 at the Tokyo Olympics in July 2021. She then lowered it to 50.68 seconds at the 2022 World Championships, followed by 50.54 at the 2023 US Trials. Most recently, she smashed her record with a stunning 50.37 at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Moreover, Johnson had always had good words for McLaughlin, like on the news of her racing in the 100m and 100 mH in Philly, he said that Sydney loves a challenge. Sh is doing long hurdles because she wants to accomplish a specific time. Why the Short hurdles? She wants to measure herself against the best 100 hurdlers or test herself over 100m flat, Jonson answered. Moreover his Femke vs Anna Cockrell comment is not wrong though. Tt is not advisable to sleep on this rivalry.
If we’re honest, we know how that ends right? Would love to have Femke though. Femke vs Anna Cockrell and others is more competitive. Syd in Short Hurdles and Long Sprints is ideal, unless she’s going for another 400h WR. https://t.co/Wcrk19tIvZ
— Michael Johnson (@MJGold) May 26, 2025
Cockrell burst onto the global stage by winning the silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, setting a personal best of 51.87 seconds. Who did she beat for the Silver? Femke Bol (52.15) herself. They met again in the 2024 Diamond League Final in Brussels. Bol emerged victorious with a time of 52.45 seconds, claiming her fourth consecutive Diamond League title. Cockrell finished second with a time of 53.71 seconds. Their rivalry first began in the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest. The Dutch secured the gold medal with 51.70 seconds on the clock, while the American athlete finished fifth with 53.34 seconds. A 2-1 scoreline is still better than a 3-0, lie that of Bol vs Levrone. But again, this has been a good season for Bol, can she finally outrun Sydney in this rivalry?
Femke Bol has been red hot this season, but can she beat Sydney McLaughlin Levrone?
On 6 March, Femke Bol anchored the Dutch mixed 4×400 m relay to gold in 3:15.63 min (Dutch record), then on 9 March repeated the feat in the women’s 4×400 m relay (3:24.34 min) — despite a brief disqualification that was successfully overturned. She opened her 400 m hurdles season at the Rabat Diamond League on 25 May, blazing to a meeting record of 52.46 seconds to claim her fifth consecutive DL hurdles title.
McLaughlin-Levrone has been equally dominant on the inaugural Grand Slam Track circuit. In Kingston (6 April), she powered to victory in the long hurdles with 52.76 s, sweeping the hurdles group and then winning in the flat 400 m (50.32 s) for the overall title. At Miami (3 May), she returned with a world-leading 52.07 s to defend her long hurdles crown and secure 12 points toward a second consecutive GST title. Femke Bol and Sydney McLaughlin have gone head-to-head in several major finals, with Sydney consistently coming out on top. At the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, Sydney won gold in 51.46 seconds while Femke took bronze in 52.03.
In the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Sydney claimed another gold with a time of 50.68, with Femke finishing second in 52.27. Their most recent clash at the Paris 2024 Olympics saw Sydney win gold again in 50.37 seconds, while Femke placed third in 52.15. While yes, Bol might be red hot as of right now, but she is not as red hot as Sydney McLaughlin Levrone, so a face of in LA meant it going down to 4-0.
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