“I’m trying to evolve. I’m trying to be the next version of me,” the four-time Olympic champion, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, remained optimistic after her loss in her 100m hurdles at the Grand Slam Track’s Philadelphia leg. Despite the loss, her performance was an uncharacteristic fifth-place finish in 12.70 seconds. The very next day, she showed for her debut 100m flat. The result? An impressive 11.21s. But as this momentum grows for Sydney, her optimism faced another test this week. How?
To see it from a broader lens, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has been showcasing her versatility and dominance in the 2025 track season. She secured victories in both the 400m hurdles and the 400m flat events. In Miami, she clocked a season-best 49.69 seconds in the 400m flat, placing her sixth on the 2025 women’s 400m toplist. Additionally, she achieved a world-leading time of 52.07 seconds in the 400m hurdles at the same meet.
On June 1, Track and Field Gazette posted its 2025 women’s 400m toplist, and surprisingly, Sydney wasn’t among the top three. Despite her victories in the opening two Grand Slam Track events, her 49.69-second clocking has her sitting sixth on the list. So, who’s ruling the 400m world right now?
Women’s 400m 2025 Toplist
Salwa Eid Naser – 48.67
Marileidy Paulino – 49.12
Gabrielle Thomas – 49.14
Isabella Whittaker – 49.24
Aaliyah Butler – 49.44
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone – 49.69
Evelis Aguilar – 49.80
Nickisha Pryce – 50.04
Alexis Holmes – 50.12…
— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) June 2, 2025
Salwa Eid Naser, that’s who. Her blazing 48.67 from the Kingston leg of the Grand Slam Track has her perched at No. 1. In Kingston, Salwa didn’t just post the year’s fastest time—she beat two Olympic gold medalists, Gabby Thomas and Marileidy Paulino, in the process. Yet, in a twist of the Slam’s cumulative format, Salwa didn’t win the group in Kingston—Gabby did. Then in Miami, she was second again, with Marileidy snatching the win. And in Philadelphia? A rocky showing: disqualified in the 400m, fourth in the 200m, and seventh in the long sprint standings. Still, Salwa leads the world list—a testament to how one electrifying race can define a season. Meanwhile, Sydney’s not paying much mind to the charts.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone looks forward to cherishing her transformation
Fresh off a weekend filled with bold choices, unexpected finishes, and powerful statements, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone didn’t rush to defend her results. She didn’t need to. Instead, she opened up on Instagram, not with excuses, but with reflection.
“Took a risk, and regret nothing! Hills and valleys alike make the journey beautiful. Philly you were amazing! ,” Sydney wrote, offering a window into the heart of a champion who knows growth doesn’t come wrapped in gold medals alone. Her performances weren’t just athletic gambles—they were acts of reinvention. But it was one particular image in the post that stopped followers in their scroll.
Among the carousel of high-energy race shots and candid moments from the Grand Slam Track Philly edition was a haunting photograph: Muhammad Ali sitting slumped in the corner of the ring, taken on October 2, 1980, after his loss to Larry Holmes. To many, it was just a historic image. To those who understood, it spoke volumes.
Ali wasn’t just a fighter in that photo—he was a man who dared to test his limits, to walk into the unknown, and to stand tall even when the result didn’t go his way. Sydney’s choice to include it echoed that same spirit. She wasn’t romanticizing defeat—she was honoring the beauty of the fight. So, this wasn’t a post about results. It was a love letter to the process. A nod to the courage it takes to evolve in front of the world. And a reminder that even the greatest icons have their valleys—what matters is how they keep climbing.
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