Just a few nights before the US Olympic trials in Eugene, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone appeared in Los Angeles, California. No, she wasn’t there for any recreational activities. Instead, she teamed up with Michael Johnson to kick off the innovative Grand Slam Track contest. Throughout this time, she maintained a radiant demeanor, filled with hope to overcome all the hurdles in the upcoming days, just as she does on the track. However, fans remained skeptical of that possibility.

Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone has carried unbelievable weight recently. While she is aiming to reach great heights in the track world with her inclusion in the contest, this could be an added task on her hands at a time when she is aiming to achieve a bit at the Olympics in Paris. 

Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone confirms her inclusion in four Slams

As per the update, Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone has become the first athlete to be roped in by the Grand Slam Track. She will be part of the core GST racers who will contest in four Slams each year. For that participation, she will earn an annual base compensation, apart from the prize money. The contest has already announced a hefty purse where the toppers will earn $100,00 per Slam victory. The two-time Olympic champion couldn’t hide her expression after unveiling such a large contest. In her acknowledgment, she said, “It’s very professionally put together and I really feel like it’s going to elevate the platforms of the athletes that compete more than once every four years at the Olympics.” But how many numbers has she appeared on the tracks in the post-Tokyo Olympics duration? 

After her victory in the 400m hurdle event in Tokyo, Sydney has only competed in one World Athletics Championship (2022) and one Diamond League event (2023). Her knee injury has been a significant setback, and frequent last-minute withdrawals from events have kept her in the news headlines.

Another criticism she faces is that she tends to appear in competitions only before championships, as evidenced by her participation in the 2023 Diamond League. This year alone, Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone has competed in numerous events, all geared towards Olympic preparation. Joining the GST would ensure her presence on the track four times a year. Will Bob Kersee’s mentee take up the opportunity?

Till now, the Diamond League has had the biggest purse among all the track and field championships. In the post-Tokyo Olympics duration, the 24-year-old American athlete participated in DL last year, leaving the World Athletics Championships unattended. So a fan queried, “But you already don’t show up for major events so other than money, what makes this different?” pointing at her signing up with the GST. 

With a big deal, comes bigger responsibilities 

As per a larger chunk of track and field fans, Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone will have to face a lot of issues to appear in all the versions of Grand Slam Track. Her troubled fitness could be the foremost challenge. In 2023, Sydney remained absent in many tournaments. In 2025, after the global athletic season, would she continue with the same fervor? Noticing that part, one fan asked, “Does she know she might actually have to race?” 

Even someone added that Britton Wilson, Sydney’s opponent, has appeared in more racers compared to the former recently, “britton wilson has run like one race the whole year. sydney has raced one diamond league in the last 5 years.” Furthermore, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s appearance in the GST could be shortened as a fan thinks. 

After the Tokyo Olympics, Sydney entered just one contest on the European track, in 2022. Since then, the former world champion has been having an off day. She recently talked about avoiding jet lag in the early season. That could be her reason. Meanwhile, one fan jibed at her by saying, “better not have any races in europe or she’ll tweak her hamstring a week out”. However, as of now, nothing has come out regarding the venues of GST. 

The question now remains, will Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone appear in the four Slams when the GST kicks off? Sydney may not have an answer to that question.