At the Philadelphia edition of Grand Slam Track on June 1, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was ready to shake things up. She was set to race in the women’s 100m — her first time running the event as a pro. Before that, she’d only ever done it once, way back in college. Still, the four-time Olympic champ was leaving her signature 400m hurdles behind to try something totally new. Why? In her own words: “I’m trying to evolve. I’m trying to be the next best version of me.” She was ready to take on the challenge, to “ do the hard things and go up against the best of the best.” Sure, she didn’t win the 100m that day. But that wasn’t really the point. Sydney had set a goal — to push herself, to grow — and she hit it. That day was just the beginning of something bigger. And she didn’t stop there.
Everyone thought Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone would stick to what she does best — the 400m hurdles — at the upcoming USATF Nationals. But nope, she’s switching it up again. This time, she’s going all-in on the women’s 400m flat. That means we won’t get to see the much-hyped showdown with her rival, Femke Bol, at the Tokyo World Championships. Still, don’t think it’s going to be boring — far from it. Sydney’s been seen as a serious threat to the American 400m record for a while now, and this move is putting her right in the spotlight. The New Jersey native is stepping into an event stacked with talent, so it won’t be a cakewalk. The competition is fierce, and the pressure’s real. So how tough is the road ahead for her? Well, track legend Justin Gatlin has a take on that — and it’s worth listening to.
In the latest episode of Ready Set Go, Justin Gatlin broke it all down when it comes to Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. And let’s just say — he’s not sugarcoating anything. According to him, Sydney’s got a tough road ahead at the USATF Nationals. Why? Simple: expectations. “Everybody wants to see you go break a record,” Gatlin said. “That’s where Sydney’s at, right? Cuz she’s done it so much in the 400-meter hurdles. She’s dominated for so long. That’s all we know. So, we always want her to win.” And he’s not wrong. Sydney has shattered the world record in the 400m hurdles not once, not twice — but six times. So when fans show up or tune in, they’re not just looking for a win. They want the whole package. We’re talking fireworks: records broken, jaws dropped, history made. A regular win? That’s just not enough anymore. People expect her to leave the track with something huge.
Credit: Instagram/ Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
Obviously, the big target here is the U.S. record in the women’s 400m. Sydney’s already the second-fastest American ever in the event — just 0.05 seconds behind Sanya Richards-Ross’ national record. Yeah, that close. So, could she go for it? Totally. But as Justin Gatlin pointed out, the pressure Sydney faces is a whole different beast. She’s not just trying to win — she’s expected to dominate. To stay at the very top, like she’s always done in the 400m hurdles. That’s a lot to carry. But here’s the thing: Sydney’s not running from the pressure — she’s chasing it.
At 25, she’s already said she wants to throw herself into uncomfortable situations. That’s how she grows. And lining up against tough competitors like Aaliyah Butler, Isabella Whittaker, and the rest of the 400m crew at Nationals? Yeah, that’s one of those moments. It won’t be easy. But that’s exactly why she’s doing it.
And even with all that pressure, Sydney’s still going to do what it takes to chase down that American record. How? According to Justin Gatlin, she’s got a game plan — and it starts with her longtime coach, Bobby Kersee. “She’s [Sydney] going to reverse engineer with her great coach, Bobby,” Justin said. “They’re going to figure out how they can get the job done to run the time that’s necessary. And if that time is going to break the American record, that time needs to also be that time that’s going to put you on top of that podium.” Basically, they’re not just aiming for a fast time — they’re going for the time. One that wins and rewrites the books. And Gatlin wrapped it all up with one of the biggest compliments you can give: “If anybody can get it done in our sport, that we know that can be dominant, focused, and determined, it is Sydney.” That’s a major vote of confidence right there. But Gatlin’s not the only one backing her. There’s someone else in the track and field world who’s just as confident Sydney’s got what it takes to pull this off.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has been compared with Usain Bolt
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Usain Bolt — two icons from the same world, both redefining greatness in their own way. Funny enough, Sydney’s first Olympic experience in Rio wasn’t just about making her debut — it was about witnessing Usain Bolt light up the track in person. A memory she’ll never forget. But now?
People are starting to mention Sydney’s name in the same breath as Bolt’s. And Coach Rob broke it down perfectly in one of his podcasts. “Sydney changed her event,” he said. “And I think we’ve accepted that for what it is.” But then he went deeper — saying what a lot of people have been thinking: Sydney brings that same energy Bolt did. “Usain Bolt energy,” as Rob called it. “Everything she [Sydney] does at this point is just adding to her legacy,” he said. “That’s all she’s doing. If she walked off the track today and said, ‘I’m done,’ we’re still going to be talking about it for a long time.” That’s the level she’s on now — where wins, records, and even risks like switching events are just chapters in a legacy that’s already legendary.
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