Eugene, Oregon, is crackling with anticipation as the Prefontaine Classic approaches. And rightfully so, all eyes are on Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. The 400m hurdles queen is set to light up Hayward Field on July 5, 2025, racing the flat 400m for the first time at this iconic meet. Sydney, now in her mid-twenties and already one of the most decorated athletes of her generation, her choices on the track are beginning to carry a different kind of weight. With the LA28 Olympics nearing and much already achieved, every lane she steps into eyes a bigger question: what is on the horizon?
After dominating GST performances, the 25-year-old phenom, who shattered her own world record (50.37 seconds) at the Paris 2024 Olympics, is chasing history again. With four Olympic golds and an unmatched streak of 12 consecutive 400m hurdles finals wins since 2019, she’s the one to watch as she graces the high-voltage DL track for the first time this season. But whispers of her future plans, shared recently on Justin Gatlin’s YouTube channel, hint at a different story.
On Gatlin’s Ready Set Go podcast from July 3, 2025, Sydney opened up about her passion for mentorship, a fire that burns as brightly as her competitive spirit. “I’m grateful I’ve had a couple of opportunities at mentorships, with some friends. One is a 400m hurdler in college, and I love being able to pour back into the next generation, being able to share the wisdom I’ve gained—that’s been so meaningful,” she said. Guiding young athletes, especially a college hurdler, has become a cornerstone of her journey. It’s not just about records for Sydney; it’s about legacy. Her faith fuels this mission, as she aims to inspire both on and off the track. How does she balance this with her relentless drive to improve?
Credit: Instagram/ Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone‘s mindset is all about growth. “There’s just so much more to be done,” she told Gatlin. “Even taking something like the 400 hurdles and just seeing—okay, where are the areas that I can improve?” This hunger has led her to break the 400m hurdles world record six times, trimming 1.79 seconds off the mark between 2021 and 2024. She’s not content resting on past glory; every race is a new challenge. As she eyes the flat 400m at Prefontaine, could this be a step toward new horizons, like the LA28 Olympics? What does she want her legacy to be when the spikes come off?
Her reply? Clear. “I want to walk away from track and field having the best, like, score sheet I can in terms of every event that I’ve run. So I’m like, how can I get my 100 time faster? How can I get my 100 hurdle time faster, my 200, my 400, my 400 hurdles, my long jump? It’s like the hep without the he, you know what I mean? To me, that’s fun, being able to retire and be like, dude, we didn’t zone in on everything, but if we did, I could just imagine where it could have gone.”
Sydney’s answer is sharp on how she wants it all to end. “I think for me, that’s the desire. It’s like, when I hang up my spikes one day, I want to be content in knowing I gave everything I had to everything I did. And then I feel like I can walk away.” Adding to this, “I want to be remembered, just somebody who truly did everything she did for the glory of God and gave everything she had to whatever it was she was working towards with grace and with respect and with dignity and with class.” Her faith shapes her vision—not perfection, but excellence rooted in purpose.
She hopes to leave an impression on the next generation, modeling a life of integrity. As she races at the Prefontaine Classic, will this be another step toward that eternal legacy? Meanwhile, things are stacked up in Eugene.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and the Prefontaine Classic hype…
The Prefontaine Classic is turning 50, and Eugene’s Hayward Field is about to light up like never before this Saturday. Organizers of the Wanda Diamond League’s crown jewel have gone all-in, assembling a field so stacked it feels like the Olympics never ended. With 17 individual Olympic champions and full podium rematches from Paris in five events- women’s 100m, men’s 400m, women’s 1500m, women’s 3000m steeplechase, and women’s long jump—this could be the greatest one-day track meet of 2025. Can it live up to the hype?
Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Athletics – Women’s 400m Hurdles – Semifinal – Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan – August 2, 2021. Sydney McLaughlin of the United States in action REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel
Every event boasts at least one reigning global champion, and the star power is unreal. Mondo Duplantis, Beatrice Chebet, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and Gudaf Tsegay are back, each returning to the hallowed ground where they’ve shattered world records. Duplantis’ pole-vaulting wizardry, Chebet’s distance dominance, McLaughlin-Levrone’s hurdle mastery, and Tsegay’s relentless pace promise fireworks. But who’s got the edge on this iconic track?
Then there’s Julien Alfred, the Olympic 100m champ, who’s been untouchable this year. Undefeated in seven races across multiple distances, she just blazed a 10.75 in Stockholm, only 0.03 off her personal best from Paris. Alfred’s speed and confidence make her the one to watch. Can anyone challenge her sprint supremacy?
With legends and rising stars colliding, the Prefontaine Classic feels like a victory lap for track and field. Saturday’s showdown will be a celebration of speed, grit, and history. Who’s ready to steal the show?
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