Calm, collected, and poised. That’s how many track and field fans might describe Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. The 25-year-old never fails to dazzle the crowds with her impeccable performances on the track. She even replicated it at Stade de France, shattering another world record and claiming 2 Olympic golds. The hurdler has cemented herself as the crème de la crème, and fans can’t help but ask for more. But she is often known for being selective with her appearances, leaving many reeling. 

Masai Russell has never shied away from letting the world know how she feels. The 100m hurdler had one dream only; she wanted to stand atop the top step of the podium. However, consistent misses often kept her up at night until it finally happened. As she stepped onto the podium, she couldn’t help but cry. The 21-year-old had made it. She was finally an Olympic champion. While both athletes had a fairytale ending, one sports journalist almost didn’t get her own.

On a recent episode of Ready Set Go, Tiara Williams a.k.a Real Talk with Tee, joined Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green. While discussing her experience in Paris, she mentioned how the U.S. NCAA record holder in the 100 m hurdles was her saving grace. “Wait, can I tell you about the interview with the Masai Situation? Let me tell you how God works,” she stated. Williams made it to her first Olympics in collaboration with Puma. However, things weren’t all sunshine and rainbows for her. 

The journalist continued, “But I was a little disappointed that I wasn’t able to get access to the Team USA athletes. I was disappointed like I was trying my best.” Williams mentions how she tried her best to get in touch with them, but seeing how they would go through hours of interviews after they received their medals, it almost felt like a big ask. “So for that moment to like come around full circle, and for me to use an interview from the whole year prior. That was just like the icing on the cake,” said with a huge grin. 

What moment is she talking about? At the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Russell hit the 2nd hurdle and was out of contention. Tee had the chance to speak to her as she reflected on the journey. A year later, the hurdler claimed her maiden Olympic gold and the journalist watched her celebrate from the stands. Even though she couldn’t speak to the 21-year-old, Tee shared a reel highlighting the moments and congratulating her on the win.

Williams exclaimed, “Like it just proves to myself that you don’t got to be off the track, you can find a way to be involved without having that access, you know. Cuz I didn’t have access to anything in the Olympics but the Puma house, you know?” Justin Gatlin chimed in, pointing out how amazing that trajectory was. ” It was right on point, you told the journey of her, of a Masai, but you humanized her, you gave her opportunity to talk about.” But, she has always found a way to bring out an athlete’s different side. Her interviews with another track and field star have garnered huge attention. 

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone lets her hair down with Tiara Williams

Speaking of wholesome moments, the track and field legend brings up her interviews with the 4x Olympic gold medalist. “I love your interactions with Sydney. Because I feel like no one brings out a side of Sydney like you bring out.” After the 25-year-old’s blistering 50.65 lowered her own world record at the U.S. Olympic Trials, Williams had the chance to speak to her. “You got Sydney over here dancing, she be over here getting it. I’m like what is that, what’s going on there?” The journalist even shared a snippet from the interview on the Olympian’s 25th birthday on Instagram. 

But what’s her secret? “You know, I think it’s just a level of trust,” Williams stated, she even brought up a time when the two went live on Instagram. Since Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone hadn’t done one in forever, the journalist took steps to make the experience easy. “I made her feel comfortable. I sent her the questions ahead of time, I was like ‘Do you want the comments on? Do you want them off?’ She’s like, let’s turn them off.” Williams confesses that respect and trust are essential to establishing that relationship. 

This is what we see in her interviews too. “She’s just like ‘Oh, I know like she not going to just orchestrate nothing crazy. I can just come and be let loose with her.'” Williams doesn’t hesitate to add, “But yeah, that’s my girl. I love Syd.” Gatlin even jokes about how their bond is so strong that the Olympian might as well carry Williams in her back pocket. The journalist shared a clip of Team USA celebrating after clinching a gold in the women’s 4x400m relay event on Instagram. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone walked up to her before breaking into some fun dance moves – it was an experience she wouldn’t want to forget any time soon.