The track and field community is buzzing with a mix of excitement and confusion right now. On September 3rd, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone announced she’ll be running the 200m and 400m at the Diamond League final later this month, which caused quite a stir. This comes right on the heels of her incredible performance at the Paris Olympics.

As in Paris, she defended her 400m hurdles title by smashing her own world record with a time of 50.37 seconds. Besides, she also helped the USA win gold in the 4x400m relay with the fourth-fastest split time in Games history. So, while there’s considerable excitement about her upcoming appearance, the track and field community is also reeling from the shock of her unexpected entry. It is reminiscent of the surprise Athing Mu caused when she faced a similar situation.

Sydney McLaughlin Levrone has even confirmed her intention to compete in both the 200-meter and 400-meter races at the Diamond League final in Brussels on September 13th and 14th. She has secured a spot through a wildcard entry and has indicated no plans to prioritize the 400-meter race.

Despite her emphasis on hurdling events in her career so far, Sydney McLaughlin gained significant attention in July when she clocked 48. 74 seconds in the 400-meter race. Notably, it is the second-fastest time ever recorded by an American and the 12th-fastest worldwide. Nonetheless, Owen recently disclosed the news on X that promptly sparked speculations regarding McLaughlin Levrone’s participation in the Diamond League.

He pointed out, “According to the official Diamond League rules in regards to global wild cards, the athlete MUST have competed in at least one Diamond League meeting in the course of the season. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone hasn’t competed at a DL meet this season, therefore not fulfilling the criteria for a global wildcard or having enough points to automatically qualify.”

Owens suggested that either the rules have changed without notice or there’s a selective bending of the rules for certain athletes. He emphasized the need for clear communication, warning that setting different standards for some athletes could set a troubling precedent.

He even dropped a screenshot of the Diamond League rule, which clearly states that meeting organizers can invite up to four global wild card athletes (two men and two women) to compete in the Wanda Diamond League Final. To qualify, an athlete must have participated in at least one Diamond League meeting during the season and meet at least one of the following criteria:

Be a world record holder, reigning world, Olympic, or Diamond League champion, be in the top 5 of the World Athletics rankings for their event, or be in the top 20 of the overall World Athletics rankings. Additionally, no event featuring a national wild card athlete can also include a global wild card. If a global wild card athlete wins, they will be crowned Diamond League champion and receive the Diamond Trophy, but will not receive the full prize money.

Recently, Carl Lewis, the legendary American track and field star with nine Olympic gold medals, commented on Sydney’s participation in the Diamond League. He stated, “They did it for me numerous times. It’s been happening for years, and It has always been a great idea. Get the best athletes to race, any way you can.”

While the debate continues, it’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time such a situation has arisen.

Sydney McLaughlin’s participation recalls the 2023 unexpected entry into the Prefontaine Classic

Athing Mu’s surprise entry into the Prefontaine Classic, the 2023 Diamond League final, definitely raised some eyebrows last year. After finishing third in the 800m at the World Championships in Budapest on August 27, Mu seemed ready to call it a season and even mentioned wanting a break from track and field.

So, seeing her name on the women’s 800m list at the Prefontaine Classic on September 13th and 14th was a bit of a shock. It’s unclear if she changed her mind or if her sponsor Nike had a hand in this, as they often require athletes to participate in certain events.

Despite not having competed in any Diamond League meets that season, Athing Mu has been granted a wild card entry, a special opportunity for U.S. athletes. This added excitement to the women’s 800m race, especially considering Mu’s impressive track record. But in the end, Mu clinched the win by clocking 1:54.97, setting a new American record and meeting record.

With her standout performance in the books, it’ll be fascinating to see if Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone can match or surpass her achievements. Do you think she can go one step further, yet again?