Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has had an iconic year. At the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sydney went on to break her own 400m hurdles world record clocking 50.37. But that’s not all! She has set four world records in the span of just 13 months. Sydney’s Paris performance did not just seal her name as simply the greatest but also set the stage for excitement for her race at the 2024 Diamond League. However, the excitement did not last long!

It soon turned into a controversy when it was announced that Sydney would not be competing in the 200m-400m double at the Brussels Diamond League Final at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme. Despite having a wildcard to run, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was ruled ineligible for the Diamond League tracks. “It is not about allowing a specific athlete to compete or not. It is about rules and criteria which must be fulfilled by all to [become] eligible to compete at the [Diamond League] Final. Ms LcLaughlin-Levrone does not fulfill those criteria, either by accumulating enough points or receiving a wild card,” said series CEO Petr Stastny.

The wildcard event rules demand that the athletes must compete in at least one meet during the season to qualify for a wildcard. Since Sydney had not been regular in the circuit for a long time, she had no points to meet the criteria either. “The final leg of the Diamond League is not an invitational meeting, and any athlete proposed for a Global Wild Card must have competed at least in one of our events during this season,” Stastny said emphasizing the rules.

But an unexpected opportunity has arisen from this unfortunate occurrence of events! The Allianz Memorial Van Damme took it to Instagram and wrote, “To avoid any confusion or misunderstanding, we do confirm that 400m hurdles Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will be competing at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme, but not as part of the Wanda Diamond League Final races.”

Does that mean this will be her only post-Olympics event for the season? Yes, that’s right. Unfortunately, this will be the last two races Sydney will run for the season. This gesture honors Sydney’s speed and legacy. “To honour Sydney’s remarkable achievements, including her unforgettable 400m hurdles world record in Paris, we’ve added two special races. She will run the 400m on Friday and the 200m on Saturday at 19h53. Be part of these historic moments with us!” read the post. So why exactly doesn’t the fastest hurdler have enough points?

A Brief History of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and the Diamond League

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s history with the Diamond League is a sporadic one. She last competed in the 2023 Diamond League at Meeting de Paris where she finished second in the 400m with a time of 49.71 seconds. However, Sydney hasn’t actively participated since 2018. But despite her intermittent appearances, she has always managed to create history at the League.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s journey through the Diamond League is nothing short of legendary. In 2019, she claimed the 400m hurdles crown with a blazing 52.85 seconds, announcing her dominance on the world stage. Two years later, she returned to the 2021 Diamond League Final in Zurich, where she clocked the exact same time—52.85 seconds—this time earning a silver medal. But in typical Sydney fashion, she disappeared from the League scene again in 2022. Unfortunately, that absence has now cost her the coveted wildcard entry. Yet, Sydney’s legacy stretches far beyond the confines of the Diamond League.

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Sydney wasn’t just a competitor—she was the headline act. She clinched gold in both the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay, leaving the world in awe of her athletic prowess. But this was far from her first taste of victory. In 2019, at the Doha World Championships, she stunned the globe once again, winning gold in the 4x400m relay and securing silver in the 400m hurdles. And then in 2022, Sydney delivered yet another masterclass at the Eugene World Championships, winning double gold in the 400m hurdles and the relay.

As Sydney continues to carve her path into the annals of track and field history, the world eagerly awaits her final two races of the season. Whether on the biggest stages or the Diamond League circuit, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone remains a force that has proven, time and again to be unstoppable and unforgettable, possibly justifying her inclusion at Brusseles.