Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Challenge by Mondo Duplantis Gets a Fresh Perspective from Track & Field Legends: "Want This Smoke"

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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Challenge by Mondo Duplantis Gets a Fresh Perspective from Track & Field Legends: “Want This Smoke”

ByEva Aggarwal

Sep 12, 2024 | 9:04 PM EDT

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Who would dominate in a showdown: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone or Mondo Duplantis? Let's hear your thoughts!

Two world record holders, but they’re in totally different spots right now! Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis is living the dream, racking up praise after taking down Karsten Warholm in Zurich. Meanwhile, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is facing a bit of a mess. After crushing it at the Paris Olympics, she hit pause on her track life and jetted off to Greece with her husband, André, for some vacation vibes. But that little break didn’t come without some drama.

On the other hand, after Mondo’s big win over Karsten Warholm, he was all smiles, basking in the energy of their electric 100m showdown that lit up the track world. The race wasn’t just a headline-grabber; it was a spotlight moment for the sport, something the 24-year-old believes is essential for its growth. As he soaked in the buzz, his mind wandered to none other than Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. With a playful grin, he casually remarked, “I heard that Sydney got kicked out of Brussels, so if she wants to race, maybe at 400, we’ll do an extra event in Brussels, day before, day after or something.”

With these updates, the track and field stars have weighed in. On the latest Ready Set Go podcast, Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green talked about the buzz. Justin laughed, saying, “Mondo called out Sydney before he could even cool down from his last 100 he just ran. He’s like ‘What’s up? I want this smoke in this 400. Come on out.'”

Green also weighed in on the situation, noting, “Yeah, he definitely called out Sydney because, based on the rules of the diamond league, she will not be able to contend for the diamond because she didn’t contend in any diamond League this year so she is ineligible for the final.” Since Sydney missed all the Diamond League races, she’s not eligible for the final. He added, “but we know people were super excited to see that she wanted to run the 200 and the 400,” reflecting the buzz around her potential races.

Green was curious about whether bending or even breaking the rules to let her run was a good idea. He questioned, “What do you think about them bending the rules for her or maybe possibly breaking the rules for her to run,” His interest didn’t stop there; he also wondered about the competition. He pointed out, “I know they have like a whole different section or her now but I’m my whole thing is who is she running against,” indicating his curiosity about who she might compete against if special arrangements were made.

So what’s this special race Green’s buzzing about? Well, here’s the scoop: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is gearing up to run both the 200m and 400m in Brussels. However, she won’t be part of the main Diamond League events. Instead, the Memorial Van Damme meet organizers have jazzed up their lineup with “two special races” just for her. They’re rolling out the red carpet to celebrate Sydney’s incredible feats, including her jaw-dropping 400m hurdles world record from Paris. How’s that for a tribute?

With all this drama going down, did you know Mondo Duplantis didn’t just challenge Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone? He’s got his eye on someone else too! So, who’s the other athlete he’s targeting?

Mondo Duplantis takes aim at another star amid Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone drama

Curious about who Mondo Duplantis is targeting next? After setting his sights on Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, he’s now set his gaze on Dutch hurdler and sprinter Femke Bol. Despite his record-breaking streak—where he’s shattered the pole vault world record 10 times—Duplantis hinted at some exciting future matchups. It seems this pole vaulting champ might have a few more challenges up his sleeve!

“I really do not, honestly,” Duplantis confessed in a talk with ‘Pulse Sports’, reflecting on the thought of racing Femke Bol. “It took a lot more out of me than I thought it would.” He mused, “A 400 meters against Femke Bol? That would be kind of nice, but I have never run a 400 and never ran past like 150 meters, so it would probably be pretty tough,” He added with a chuckle during a press conference at the Brussels Diamond League event.

While the idea of racing a 400 meters sounds intriguing, Duplantis made it clear that it’s not on his immediate to-do list. For now, he’s all about staying sharp in his pole vaulting game, where he’s already made a legendary mark at just 24.

With his impressive track record and bold challenges, what’s your take on Mondo Duplantis going up against Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Femke Bol on the track? Can this pole vaulting star outshine the ladies, or should he consider stepping back from the sprinting scene? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!