Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has garnered significant attention from the track and field world in recent years due to her outstanding performances in the 400-meter hurdles. After clinching two Olympic golds in just her third event, the champion has reportedly wrapped up her season. McLaughlin-Levrone’s decision to skip the Silesia Diamond League has only intensified the swirling rumors.

However, now a track legend has come out in support of her complimenting her dedication to her craft. At the Ready Set Go podcast hosted by track legend Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green, the discussion turned to Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s limited appearances on the track. Green highlighted that fans are eager to see more of her in action. However, Gatlin argued that it’s better for the sport if she focuses on recovery and reserves her energy for major events like the Olympics and World Championships. According to him, frequent appearances could make her dominance less exciting for the audience.

He said, “You gonna get bored of that Sydney winning everything. Sydney win every race. You gonna get bored of it to the point where her time is not even gonna affect you anymore. You’re gonna be like, oh, she just ran 51.8? You know what I’m saying?” He continued by saying that the fans should allow Sydney to do her thing. “But at the end of the day, allow her to be special and unique. Allow her to go out. She clearly trains with the intent to go out and break a world
record and, and move the needle in her event to where it’s never been before.”

The podcast duo also compared Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s long absences to Jamaican legend Usain Bolt’s. According to them, when he reached a place of dominance, he began reducing his activity. This approach helped him deliver a breathtaking performance every time he stepped onto the track. He also preferred competing in the World Championships and Olympics. Thus, being selective about where to compete is crucial for maintaining dominance at the highest level.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s period of dominance is so unprecedented that her opponents are struggling to find a way to compete against her. It has become nearly impossible for them to beat her. So, what can they do? According to Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green, the strategy for dealing with such dominance was established during Usain Bolt’s heyday.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s dominance must propel competitors to do better

According to Rodney Green, the only way for competitors to challenge Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s dominance is to improve themselves as athletes. They should use the drive to match her as motivation to reach new levels of performance consistently. This approach mirrors the Usain Bolt era, where, although no one could match his 9.58-second record, several athletes came agonizingly close. Tyson Gay and Yohan Blake each achieved personal bests of 9.69 seconds, Justin Gatlin reached 9.74 seconds, and Asafa Powell clocked 9.72 seconds.

At one point, Usain Bolt seemed to become beatable, and eventually, Justin Gatlin defeated him in Bolt’s final race at the 2017 IAAF World Championships, tarnishing his farewell. To challenge Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s current level of dominance, competitors like Femke Bol would need to consistently break the 51-second barrier. Only then might Sydney appear more vulnerable, and someone could potentially defeat her. Until that happens, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone remains an indomitable force in track and field.