Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won the Olympic 400mH gold in Paris
Hurdling queen Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone delved into her career success through the on years and how track and field isn’t given much attention in American sports.
After missing out on winning a major award, one that has eluded a track and field athlete in over two decades, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has opened up on how her sport is disrespected in American sports.
The decorated athlete is a four-time Olympic gold medalist, and holds the women’s 400m Hurdles world record, is the only woman in history to secure back-to-back Olympic titles in the event, thus making her one of the most dominant figures in contemporary sports.
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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone all smiles after setting a new 400m championship record in Tokyo. Photo || IMAGO
This year, she shifted her focus from the hurdles to the 400m flat, a change that yielded spectacular results. McLaughlin-Levrone shattered a 19-year-old American record, winning the world championship gold in Tokyo with a blistering time of 47.78 seconds.
In a recent interview with USA TODAY Sports on behalf of Oakley Meta, McLaughlin-Levrone, the new face of the brand’s AI-powered Vanguard glasses, shared her thoughts on her recent success and future ambitions.
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“I really think there was just a challenge there to push,” she said on switching to the 400m. “Two years ago when I pursued it in 2023, I just wasn’t able to make it to the World Championships due to injury. Circling back this year, I felt this tug on my heart to really pursue it again.”
She acknowledged the difficulties of the transition. “The year was full of ups and downs, just trying to figure out this event. Though it’s the same distance, it’s so different from the hurdles. So I just wanted to push myself through that challenge, and I’m grateful for how it turned out.”
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With the women’s 400m world record standing at 47.60s, the 26-year-old’s recent performance in Tokyo has put it squarely in her sights.
“I think it’s fair to say that that’s definitely something that’s on my radar,” she confirmed. “I think coming so close at Worlds… we knew that sub-48 was there. I was a little surprised to see 47.78. You feel so close yet so far away from that world record.”
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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won the 400m gold ahead of established runners Marileidy Paulino and Salwa Eid Naser in Tokyo
“But it’s exciting,” she added. “It’s an exciting time for sports. It’s an exciting time for that event. It definitely is a challenge that I hope I can push myself in for more races to come.”
The possibility of a 400m/400m Hurdles double
When asked about potentially competing in both the 400-meter hurdles and the open 400 at a future World Championships or the 2028 Olympics, McLaughlin-Levrone kept her options open.
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“There’s been a lot of talk about this double. I can’t rule anything out,” she said. “I think one of the beauties of just the versatility is that there are options, and so I think over the next few years, we’ll definitely have to weigh what makes sense for us and what that looks like. I don’t think we’re settled on anything quite yet, so everything’s on the table.”
On recognition and major awards
Despite her unparalleled resume, a female track and field athlete has not won the AP Female Athlete of the Year or the Best Female Athlete ESPY Award in over two decades. McLaughlin-Levrone reflected on her place in the broader sports landscape.
“I think it’s tough when there’s so much different criteria that goes into all of these different things,” she commented. “I was nominated for an ESPY this year. It was really nice to be able to go and be amongst all the amazing athletes.”
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“I’m just going to keep working hard,” she continued. “My husband looked at me and was like, ‘You’re a winner in my eyes.’ And I joked, ‘Maybe I needed one more world record to set it over the top.’ I think track and field is not at the forefront of American sports because our profile is a bit smaller. That’s where my hope for the L.A. Olympics is to really boost all of our profiles in that sense.”
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