We are quite accustomed to watching Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone basking in triumphant glory. But watching her break down in tears? Well, it is quite a foreign sight for all the track and field lovers out there. After all, she has won almost everything. Specializing in the 400m hurdles, McLaughlin-Levrone has a 100% win record in the Olympics. Clinching gold on all four occasions, there is surely very little chance that she might be outclassed. However, there are indeed more things in heaven and Earth other than what meets the mortal eye. And thus, the unthinkable did happen!
McLaughlin-Levrone has continued to dominate in her field. After the Olympics, she went on to win the Grand Slam Track in Kingston, Jamaica. Speaking about her world record, the Olympian has now reset the record six times! But it all started with a bitter defeat way back when McLaughlin-Levrone was just a senior girl! And here’s the surprising part: not only did she lose the race, but she also admitted being scared of her opponent!
In a video uploaded on the official YouTube channel of Grand Slam Track, McLaughlin-Levrone could be spotted taking an ice bath. While in the cold tub, McLaughlin-Levrone was asked about if she could remember a race that left her heartbroken. And immediately, she replied with a resounding yes. The 4x Olympic gold medalist mentioned that there were actually two such races.
The first one, however, came when she was just 7 years old. So it did not count. But the next one came in the high school Meet of the Champions. Running a 400, McLaughlin-Levrone stated, “And I was racing like this senior girl who was like really, really fast. And I was like freaking out all week because I was a freshman and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, l’m so scared of her’.” And that was not it. While McLaughlin-Levrone expected a second-place finish, things just got worse.
“And I like – I threw up right before the race, I didn’t even get second. I was like, ‘At least I’ll get second.’ I got like fourth or fifth. I was just bawling my eyes out, and I was like, ‘Never again’,” continued McLaughlin-Levrone. On being asked what the race taught her, the Olympian stated that it’s all in the head. While one race does not have the capability to break an athlete physically that much, the over-expectation in one’s mind can prove to be disastrous.
Thankfully, McLaughlin-Levrone seems to have struck a perfect balance. Competing in the Grand Slam Track in Miami, the track queen made history once again.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone blazes to world-leading 52.07 in 400m hurdles masterclass
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is back, and she’s moving fast. In only her second race of the 2025 season, the reigning Olympic champion lit up Day 2 of Grand Slam Track Miami with a blistering 52.07 in the women’s 400m hurdles — the fastest time in the world this year. Smooth, fierce, and fully in command, Sydney made it clear that she’s still the one to chase.
Coming off a 52.76 win at the season opener in Kingston, the 24-year-old carved nearly seven-tenths off her own world lead. She was untouchable, gliding over each hurdle and finishing more than two seconds ahead of Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight (54.08). USA’s Anna Hall, more known for the heptathlon, took a surprise third in 54.48. But the night belonged to McLaughlin-Levrone, who revealed she’s finally “just feeling 14 strides again.” She even added, “Obviously, there are things to clean up.”
The new Grand Slam Track format, where athletes compete in two events per weekend, sets her up for a second win in Sunday’s 400m flat. But on Saturday night, with the crowd behind her and her rhythm flowing, McLaughlin-Levrone reminded everyone that when she steps onto the track, the pace of the world changes. “For the second race of the year, I’m pretty happy,” she said.
The post “Scared of Her”: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Makes Shocking Confession as Track and Field Star Opens on Bitter Defeat appeared first on EssentiallySports.
