In the fast-paced world of track and field, you either keep up or end up in oblivion. Unless you’re Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. The 25-year-old sprinter is one of the most enigmatic names in the sport, who continues to prove her salt at big occasions around the world. On the other hand, McLaughlin-Levrone is often criticized for making herself unavailable from competitions that don’t share a similar status with the Olympic Games or the World Championships.

Fans couldn’t contain their excitement at the prospect of seeing the New Jersey native, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, compete at the upcoming Brussels Diamond League. After successfully defending both of her Olympic golds at the Paris Games, many hoped she might end the season on a high note by repeating her feats in the Belgian capital. However, dark clouds have gathered on the horizon. In this article, we’ll break down how Diamond League regulations are creating obstacles for both fans and McLaughlin-Levrone, potentially preventing a season-ending spectacle.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone couldn’t play deaf to the fans’ demands

For the American track star, the French capital became the stage for legendary feats. Clocking 50.37 seconds, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone shattered her own previous best to set a new world record in the women’s 400m hurdles in Paris. She then teamed up with Harvard graduate Gabby Thomas to secure a gold medal for the USA in the women’s 4x400m relay at Stade de France. Naturally, fans were ecstatic, and demands for her quick return to the track grew louder. Yet, as always, McLaughlin-Levrone’s tendency to be selective with her appearances loomed large.

Since the conclusion of the 33rd Olympic Games, there have been three Diamond League meets, and McLaughlin-Levrone hasn’t participated in any of them. When the schedule for the Lausanne Diamond League was announced post-Olympics, fans eagerly searched for her name among the list of competitors. Unsurprisingly, the 2019 Diamond League gold medalist seemed to have decided to sit out this edition of the tournament. Soon fans clamored and grunted that we shouldn’t get our hopes high. But it also was soon understood that their disappointment didn’t fall on deaf ears.

With just over a week remaining to the final Diamond League event of the season, McLaughlin-Levrone was given a wildcard entry to participate. It was announced by the official Wanda Diamond League would see Levrone run in the 200m and 400m races in Brussels. However, the decision still seemed to irk a few track purists. What ticked off certain fans further was that it was also revealed that McLaughlin wouldn’t be running the finals. Instead as something “special”.

An appearance, with a twist

“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,” stated Memorial Van Damme. Diamond League CEO Petr Stastny elaborated that McLaughlin-Levrone didn’t meet the eligibility criteria to compete in the finals. “It is not about allowing a specific athlete to compete or not,” Stastny noted. Instead, he said, it was merely because she didn’t have enough points to secure the finals for not having competed in any of the previous Diamond League events this year. Once again, fans expressed their disappointment over how the hurdler’s coach Bobby Kersee prefers to ensure her peak health conditions instead of advising her to set the tracks on fire.

This year, McLaughlin-Levrone has participated in only three tournaments. Nonetheless, for her ardent fans, it will still be a treat to watch her blaze through the tracks as she returns to Europe for the first time since the Paris Games. She’s receiving special treatment to ensure that fans can fully appreciate her blinding speed. McLaughlin-Levrone will be ending her season with two back-to-back races on a flat surface, rather than hurdling as she usually does. Considering that she ranks among the top 15 fastest women of all time in the 400m event, we can expect her to ignite the track at the Memorial Van Damme. Excited? So are we! Tell us in the comments how you would have liked McLaughlin-Levrone’s season to end!