“Wanted to Be Safe”: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Reveals How She’s Saving US Hope for Paris Olympics

Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone has stood by her coach’s statement of focusing on the 400mh event solely for the upcoming Paris Olympics. Today, her world-leading timing came as 52.70 in the Edwin Moses Legends Meet, where she claimed the top podium. It was her first 400m hurdle event after 22 months where, for a large instance, she had to stay outside of the track because of her injury. However, after her return to the competitive field, the 2-time Olympic champion has eyed the contests in the US only. After her victory today, the host asked her a question about considering the European fields. 

Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone had her answer ready. In explaining her side, the 24-year-old flaunted her love for the European tracks. However, at the same time, she would have to think about the jetlag as she is not ready yet to push her physical limit, at the earliest of the season. She further added, “I think just in a year like this, coming off injury last year, I just wanted to be safe. Travel can take a lot out of the body”. But soon, she will have her chance. Claiming on that, Sydney noted that she is looking forward to having some in Europe in the coming days. 

Eventually, the last time she participated in an event away from the USA was at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial, Hungary, back in 2022. However, moving to 2023, Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone had to bow out from the World Track and Field Championships and the Pre-World meet, battling with her knee injury. Otherwise, it could be a special chance for her European fans to witness her running in the 400m hurdles event in Budapest. Yet, in the ongoing season, Sydney is not looking away from the staple event that brought her the individual Olympic gold medals – the 400m hurdle. 

In speaking about her chance at the 400mh event, Bob Kersee, Sydney’s coach said “I think Sydney’s love is the 400m hurdles, and so that’s the number one event”. The statement added a different flare as the Olympic champion had been steadily outnumbering opponents like Gabby Thomas this season. However, today’s performance proved the UCLA athlete’s unmatched quality. Eventually, today the 400mh hurdle legend Edwin Moses showed up at the track named after him to congratulate Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone. The moment might take time to sink in. Additionally, as per Sydney, it will be motivating for her in the coming days. 

Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone wants to push her boundary 

The celebrated coach Bobby Kersee prefers his mentees to have a holistic preparation level before getting into a big competition. It was evident before the Tokyo Olympics when Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone took the field of both 60m and 100m sprinting events. This time as well, the New Jersey-born tried her feet in the 100m and 200m events. Those appearances gave hope to the track and field community to watch Sydney in multiple events. 

However, the 3-time world champion is living at this moment. Rather, she asserted a few days ago, “…after last year, [I] stick to one event and try to do the best I can, be healthy, which we are, and I’m very happy about.” And what about her vivid ability to unearth fine performances in shaving her clocking in the events? 

On that probability, Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone said, “I think for me it just shows that anything really is possible and that we are continuing to push the bounds of that”. Therefore, in the coming future, a more paced performance might show up from her side. Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone’s opponents must be watching this.