Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is a real asset to any event, and the Diamond League organizers couldn’t agree more. As the Diamond League organizer put it, “I think every meeting organizer would take a big jump in excitement” at the chance to have her. Initially, the excitement was building because she was thought to be part of the DL finals, but now the world 400m hurdles record-holder and multiple Olympic champion won’t be part of the main Diamond League program.

However, she’ll still be ending her season in Brussels. The Brussels Diamond League confirmed her participation earlier this week but didn’t clarify whether she’d be in the pre-Diamond League events or the main program.

And that led to quite a bit of confusion. If Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone wanted to participate in the main program with a global wild card, she needed to compete in a Diamond League race this season. Since she hasn’t raced in a Diamond League event since last July—when she posted a 49.71 in the 400m in Paris—Diamond League CEO Petr Stastny declared her “ineligible” for the official 200m and 400m races.

Now, Kim Gevaert, the Brussels Diamond League meet director, has stepped in to clarify the situation and address the controversy surrounding McLaughlin-Levrone’s invitations for the 400m and 200m events. In a recent update shared on X by Citius Mag, Gevaert posted a video where she is asked by an interviewer, “From the American side, we were excited to see Sydney running here. Can you talk about the kind of decision that went behind having her come here and specifically the timing of it?”

To clarify, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will be competing in 200m and 400m at the Brussels Diamond League on September 13-14. However, she will not be part of the Wanda Diamond League Final races. McLaughlin-Levrone will return to competition in Brussels with a single appearance, her first since her Olympic triumph.

So, Kim Gevaert replied to this question, saying, “Sydney….wanted to come and run here in Brussels. So, I think every meeting organizer would take a big jump in when you get a phone call like that. We were very excited about it, and it’s good to have Sydney run here in the best possible conditions. We’re very excited to have her here for the Dublin 400 and 200, so we’ll see what she will run…..”

“She was going to run here, but it wasn’t specified if it would be a Diamond League final or not. She was always going to run. We always knew that we were going to make it work.” There was a belief that arrangements would be made for her participation no matter what. Nevertheless, according to developments, Sydney seems to have made preparations to conclude her season well, and future endeavors are in the pipeline! But will she be able to compete against Bol again? Her biggest rival, who is still reeling from their Paris performance?

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s future plans!

Well, we all know Sydney McLaughlin Levrone clocked in at 48.74 in July at Hayward Field. Impressive! But now is aiming higher for the upcoming event. But how high, in Brussels, she is hoping she can break Sanya Richards Ross’s U.S. record of 48.70. “My goal is to improve my personal records,” McLaughlin-Levrone said. “I started my season this spring in the 200m and 400m and now I would like to finish with them as well, assess where I stand at those distances now, after having focused a whole year on the 400m hurdles.”

As the season comes to a close, Sydney looks towards 2025 in Tokyo for the World Championships. There, she is determined to secure the world title this time after Femke Bol clinched victory in the 400m hurdles during her absence last year.

But for now, Mclaughlin Levrone is gearing up for Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track League in 2025, where she plans to participate in both the 400-meter hurdles and 400-meter flat races while also representing her hometown of Los Angeles in one of the events.

“The World Championships will take place in mid-September,” she said. The Grand Slam Track League holds special appeal for her, particularly the meeting in Los Angeles, her hometown, and the host city of the upcoming Olympic Games. McLaughlin-Levrone is eager to be a part of this event and is looking forward to recreating the incredible atmosphere she experienced in Paris.