Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone put on a fantastic show at the Van Damme Memorial. She clocked at 22.40 in the 200m race, which was part of the Diamond League’s final stage at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. She won in a special event organized just for her, finishing ahead of Gambian sprinter Gina Bass Bittaye, who came in second with a time of 23.01. Delphine Nkansa snagged third place, matching her personal best with 23.03, while Rani Rosius rounded out the top seven with a time of 23.56. But here it goes, well, this all came after her recent injury.

On September 13, in the pre-program races at the Brussels Diamond League, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone competed in the 400m dash with a time of 49.11 seconds. After the race, she acknowledged that running the 400m at the end of the season was particularly challenging, and she experienced some cramping. When asked about her injury after the recent race, she reflected, “It was great to race here, but to be honest, I am just happy with my successful season and with how everything turned out.”

She added, “It was a little bit warmer than yesterday, but still very chilly conditions. I definitely felt a little bit better than yesterday, but of course, I hoped for a faster time. It is what it is. I am happy that I can walk away healthy and look back on a great season. Now I am going to enjoy my offseason and the Belgian waffles.”

Well, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone knows all too well how injuries can impact her career. She had to miss the 2023 World Championships in Budapest due to a minor knee issue, though she didn’t need surgery. She shared with her followers that, after consulting with her doctors and coaches, she needed to address the knee problem to ensure she’d be in top shape for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

She expressed her eagerness to get back on track soon, despite having to skip the chance to defend her title after her gold win in Eugene in 2022. Her performance at the Brussels Diamond League earlier stirred up a lot of buzz, though reactions were mixed, especially with uncertainty around whether she would compete in the 200m.

McLaughlin-Levrone looks back on the European race

After clinching two gold medals in Paris—one in the 400m hurdles and another in the 4x400m relay—Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s return to individual racing has been highly anticipated. She mentioned that she would take some time to rest and decide whether to compete in the 200m. Although the weather in Brussels wasn’t ideal for a faster time, McLaughlin-Levrone remained satisfied with her performance. She’s focused on improving her personal records and evaluating her performance in the 200m and 400m after a year primarily dedicated to the 400m hurdles. But unfortunately, she couldn’t!

Despite hoping for a faster time, McLaughlin-Levrone relished the experience of racing in Europe. She acknowledged the challenging conditions but was thrilled with the chance to compete and engage with the enthusiastic crowd. “I was hoping for a little bit faster, but the weather definitely wasn’t on my side today. I’m just happy to be here and get the experience racing in Europe. It’s an amazing crowd. I’m just having some fun,” she said. And to top it off, today, she proved just that she’s not giving up anytime soon.