Some are delusional enough to even criticize the reigning Olympic and World champion, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who never needed theatrics to command attention. Already one of the most dominant track and field athletes in the world, her every race is a masterpiece, every stride an artist’s brushstroke against the canvas of history. Still, bagging four Olympic gold medals and four World Championship medals (three golds and one silver) isn’t enough “personality” for some. McLaughlin-Levrone in person has always gotten a lot of flak, but now, it’s time to do something about it.

“You don’t show enough flash”, “Not enough presence beyond the stopwatch” and blah blah… After years of letting her times do the talking, McLaughlin-Levrone has finally decided to address it head-on. Sitting down on the latest episode of Spill the Tee, the Team USA world champion sprinter showed all personality at once. “I get a lot of flak for not showing enough personality on the track, but it’s because I’m trying to give y’all the best performances possible. Period,” she addressed the haters, her voice carrying the weight of an athlete who has heard the noise for far too long. “If you want the personality, you’re going to have to get it here.”

Then, with confidence only the fastest 400m hurdler in history could exude, she delivered the mic-drop moment: “Right here. This is it. Pick one. We can’t have both. Period. Okay, thank you.” The host lauded her for clearing the air out.

It was the kind of raw, unfiltered honesty that Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone rarely showcases in the public eye. But beneath the calm exterior, it’s clear she’s tired of the false narratives. Since she burst onto the scene as a high school phenom, every inch of her career has been scrutinized. From being the first woman hurdler in history to break the mythical barrier, dipping under 51 seconds and under 52 seconds in the 400m hurdles, at just 25.

Even at this year’s Paris Olympics in August, she defended her hurdles title by breaking her own world record with 50.37 seconds. But instead of celebrating her unparalleled achievements, critics have latched onto the idea that she doesn’t race often enough, and doesn’t interact with the crowd enough.

Yet, even as she claps back at those critiques, she continues to let her feet do the real talking. The Kingston Grand Slam on April 4-6 will feature the best in the world, and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will be right in the mix, competing in the women’s long hurdles (400m/400m hurdles).

Beyond the track, she has found her voice in other ways. Her best-selling book, Far Beyond Gold, peels back the layers of her journey, offering a deeply personal look at her struggles with fear, identity, and the crushing weight of expectation. “I had struggled with fear my whole life, kind of just my identity in being a winner and obviously, that is not guaranteed in this life,” she revealed. “I think I am very grateful to God for setting me free from that by way of Jesus Christ.” It’s a glimpse into the mindset of an athlete who, despite all her accomplishments, is still navigating the complexities of fame, faith, and personal growth. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone doesn’t need to be the loudest person in the room. She never has.

If history is any indication, she won’t just show up—she’ll dominate. When she steps onto the track, she will have unfinished business, as there’s still one record left to shatter.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone chasing Sub-50, but keeping the faith

The New Jersey native has already rewritten the record books multiple times, but there’s one milestone that continues to elude her: breaking the 50-second barrier in the 400-meter hurdles. Despite holding the world record, the New Jersey native has yet to dip below that magical mark—a feat that track fans have been eagerly waiting for. But for McLaughlin-Levrone, while the goal is there, it’s not something she’s obsessing over.

In a recent interview with World Athletics, the three-time Olympian made it clear that while running sub-50 is on her radar, she refuses to let it consume her. “That definitely is on my mind for sure. An athlete would naturally want to do that,” she admitted. “Whether that happens or not is up to God. I’m just going to work for it. I can’t put a number on it.”

And if it’s not her who finally breaks through that barrier? She’s at peace with that, too. “It maybe me, or maybe an athlete in five or 10 years from now,” she continued. “So, I’m just going to continue to try to be the best I can be and if it comes, it comes, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. But I think for me it’s just the desire to improve.”