Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s fans are eagerly hoping to see more of her on the track. After her electrifying performance in the 400m hurdles at the Paris Olympics, she thrilled her supporters even further by anchoring the women’s 4x400m relay. Her blistering split of 47.70 seconds was so fast that it left Team USA miles ahead of their competitors, securing a dominant victory. However, her fans are now dreaming of something more: they want to see McLaughlin-Levrone push her limits and make a comeback in the 200m sprint.

That’s right—you heard it correctly! Just before the Paris Olympics, McLaughlin-Levrone stunned the track and field world by competing in the 200m dash at the 2024 LA Grand Prix. It wasn’t her usual event, but she didn’t disappoint. She clocked a personal best time of 22.07 seconds, outpacing a field that included Gabby Thomas, the world silver medalist and Tokyo bronze medalist, who finished sixth in 22.68 seconds.

After the race, McLaughlin-Levrone explained that the 200m was just a warm-up to sharpen her form for her signature 400m hurdles. “It’s just a good gauge of where you are, and I think that’s what these are; helping me see where I’m at and what I need to improve on,” she shared. However, she also confessed a love for the sprint races, which has left fans wondering if she might make a serious return to the 200m, especially with the 2025 Tokyo World Championships on the horizon.

Fans have already taken to social media, buzzing with excitement over the possibility. One fan on X even sparked a debate about her potential, suggesting it would be thrilling to see McLaughlin-Levrone compete in the 200m in Tokyo. They wrote, “She has the potential of going within the 21.6-21.8 range.” This would directly challenge Gabby Thomas’s personal best of 21.60 seconds and her gold-winning time of 21.83 seconds at the Paris Olympics—both times are just fractions faster than McLaughlin-Levrone’s incredible 200m performance this season.

The anticipation is palpable. Will McLaughlin-Levrone take on the 200m once more and show the world she can dominate in yet another event?

To this, some fans penned varied reactions. Many threw their opinions into the ring, but it looked like they were eager to see McLaughlin-Levrone back in 200m action.

Interesting facts: Sydney McLaughlin Levrone had not run in a single 200m sprint event since 2018, up until this season. Still, her fans are ready to place their bets on her winning chances.

Fans gravitate toward Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone surging ahead of Thomas

A track and field fan recently stirred up some serious buzz under a post, writing, “She beat the current Olympic champion in that race, and with such ease! That time would’ve gotten silver, and it was a pretty casual outing for her.” This fan was, of course, talking about Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s shocking victory over Gabby Thomas at the LA Grand Prix. Despite the 200m being Thomas’s specialty, McLaughlin-Levrone, fresh off a season-long injury hiatus, left her in the dust. It was a reminder to the track world: never underestimate Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

Another fan quickly added to the conversation, “Anyone who can run a 50.3 over hurdles is more than capable of going well under 22 seconds in the 200m. After the race, she even mentioned she was aiming for a sub-22. She’s a medal contender in three events!” With a blistering 50.37 in the 400m hurdles—her sixth world record—McLaughlin-Levrone has already proven she’s a force to be reckoned with. For her, a flat 200m victory might just be a warm-up.

Paris 2024 Olympics – Athletics – Women’s 400m Hurdles Semi-Final – Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France – August 06, 2024. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of United States reacts after winning semi final 2. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

As McLaughlin-Levrone celebrated her semi-final win at the Paris 2024 Olympics, fans couldn’t help but wish to see her more often. “It would be great to see her compete at other meets beyond just the championships—200m, 400m, even the 100m, anything!” another fan chimed in. McLaughlin-Levrone has become a bit of a rare sight outside the major events, and her supporters are hungry for more. Every time she steps onto the track, she brings electrifying energy, and fans are eager to see her in any race she chooses.

As the next season approaches, McLaughlin-Levrone has a plethora of options. Whether it’s honing her 400m hurdles speed, sharpening her 4x400m split time, or pushing for an even faster 200m, the possibilities are endless. One fan speculated, “I’m curious about what she’ll focus on next season. Project sub-50? Project sub-48? Project sub-21.8? Or all of the above, lol.”

Another fan, however, thinks she might stick to her strengths: “I think she’ll probably focus on the 400m before moving down to the 200m. She hasn’t broken the American record yet, and she’s more than capable of doing so.” The standing American record in the 400m is 48.70 seconds, set by Sanya Richards-Ross in 2006 at Athens. McLaughlin-Levrone came incredibly close with a 48.74. Fans are betting that this record might just be her next target.

What do you think? Will McLaughlin-Levrone chase the 400m American record, or will she set her sights on dominating the 200m? Share your thoughts below!

Before you leave, check out the latest Think Tank episode on EssentiallySports. Maddisen Skinner’s coach, a renowned name in American volleyball, gives a behind-the-scenes look at his star player.