Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Track and Field Legend Dalilah Muhammad Post Paris Olympics Trials

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone completely took over the women’s 400m hurdles event at the US track and field Olympic trials. She clocked 50.65 seconds to break her world record for an incredible fifth time. While finishing the race, she herself seemed astonished as she covered her mouth with a shocked expression. Indeed, in present times, Sydney is one reason why the event gets significant attention. But do you know whom she considers the flag bearer of the event?

It is Dalilah Muhammad, who this year ran her last Olympic trials. Dalilah was the 2016 Olympic champion at the event. In the same year, Sydney showed the flair of her talent, placing third in the trials, and securing her spot in the national Olympic team while still in high school. Although she did not advance to the finals at the Olympics, she got a valuable opportunity to rub shoulders with a legend like Dalilah. After all these years, she did not seem to have forgotten that. So, after securing her third Olympic spot, she poured out her respect for Dalilah.

In a heartfelt Instagram story, McLaughlin-Levrone honored her longtime opponent Dalilah Muhammad. The post marked Muhammad with the handle “@dalilahmuhammad_” and included a black-and-white image of the two athletes. “Anna said it best, you’ve changed the game. Thank you for pushing me so many, including myself to be our best. ✨🙏🏽🤍 #legend”. Let us see What Anna Cockrell said about Muhammad after the former qualified for Paris placing second behind Sydney.

Allyson Felix shared the moment by posting a reel video from “On Her Turf, while writing “This moment was everything.” The video shows Muhammad receiving touching remarks from Anna Cockrell following the latter’s qualification for the Olympics in Paris. Cockrell emotionally remarked, “Dalilah Muhammad, you revolutionized this event. Your impact goes beyond medals and records.”

Moreover, Anna Cockrell went on to praise Dalilah Muhammad for her long-standing legacy and added, “Your grace, poise, competition, and mentorship mean so much. I want to give her her flowers now. Sorry for hijacking the interview.” Indeed, it seems that it was the impact of Muhammad that shaped Sydney where she is today. Who can forget their break-neck rivalry on the tracks?

The Tokyo Olympics were probably one of the best. That was Sydney’s first Olympic final and Muhammad had to defend her Rion Olympic gold in front of the rising talent. To understand the depth of that race we might take a cue from the races that took place before Tokyo. Whenever the two faced each other since 2019, either Muhammad or McLaughlin has broken the world record.

First, it was Muhammad at the 2019 World Championships in Doha., Her time (52.16) broke her own record from that year’s U.S. national championships. Then came Sydney’s turn. At that year’s Olympic Trials Sydney clocked 51.90. As she sat on the tracks with her trademark reaction of covering her mouth with her hands, Muhammad came forward to congratulate her. It appeared like a baton was handed over!

Sydney did not disappoint to hold the baton high at the Tokyo Olympics. She once again ran beside her idol to snatch the gold for the USA (51.47 seconds—43 hundredths of a second better than her previous world record), while Muhammad brought silver (51.58) edging out Femke Bol of the Netherlands. It seems that the rivalry between the two women developed the event itself, creating momentous instances for the records book.

“Iron sharpens iron,” McLaughlin said of Muhammad after the 2021 Olympic Trials. “We have to have each other,” she added further. On the other hand, Muhammad had all praise for her potential heir. “Absolutely saw it coming,” Muhammad had said back then, referring to McLaughlin breaking her record. “[McLaughlin] looked so good.” This reverence came out even after this year’s trials.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is amazing, but Muhammad is not done yet

With her sixth-place finish at the trials, Muhammad did not make it to Paris. But she has an immense belief in the abilities of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. “She’s been amazing the whole way through. I still think she can go 49 [seconds]. She’s just an amazing talent; a generational talent, for sure,” Muhammad declared.

Alongside, Muhammad is also immensely happy with how the event has flourished over the years. “Honestly, we went from being an event that wasn’t even thought about to being the premier event, to close out the Olympic trials. So that’s just amazing in itself. It’s ridiculous. I mean, the 400 hurdles… this event has gotten so crazy over the years. I’m so happy to see that,” Muhammad exclaimed. Indeed the timings of the event have changed insanely for good.

Muhammad pointed out that, athletes clocking around 53s were left off the team. This year, it further went down. Shamier Little did not make it to the team despite clocking 52.98. Meanwhile, she also revealed that it was not the end of her career and she was not thinking about retirement as of now. She clearly stated that a time of 54.27 was not the one she wanted to finish her season with. But for now it must be all Sydney that is there in her mind.

For the first time, Sydney will run in the Olympics without Muhammad by her side. Rather, Femke Bol will be there to better her on this occasion. Can Sydney live up to the belief Muhammad has entrusted to her?