Before Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone took over the women’s 400m hurdles world record scene, it was Dalilah Muhammad who had the crown. But since those US Olympic trials for Tokyo, New Jersey’s pride, Sydney, has been the one rewriting history, smashing the world record an insane six times. Two of those came back-to-back during the Tokyo Trials and the Games, so you could say she’s got a special thing going with records. But here’s the kicker: there was one time she didn’t break the world record… and it actually made her happy. Sounds wild, right? Well, let’s break it down.

After Tokyo, Sydney had crushed her own world record, finishing with a jaw-dropping 51.46, slicing 0.44 seconds off her previous best. She topped the podium in Tokyo, and her fans were buzzing, expecting her to keep shattering records. But when she returned to the track in Nashville the following June for her first 400m hurdles race after the Olympics, something crazy happened: she ran a 51.61, just 0.15 seconds off her own world record. And instead of being upset, Sydney was… happy.

Why? Well, as she revealed in her book, Far Beyond Gold, it all came down to one thing: her coach, Bobby Kersee, and his beloved Yankee hat. Here’s how she put it: “Bobby loves the Yankees. Whenever one of his runners breaks a record, he retires a hat. So on this occasion, I was glad the time did not come.” That’s right—Sydney didn’t break the record that day because she didn’t want Bobby to retire his lucky hat just yet.

But wait, there’s more. Sydney explained further: “I wanted him to retire the right one!” That’s right, she had her eyes set on the day when she’d break the world record and get Bobby’s special hat retired for good. So, on that day when she came close but didn’t quite hit the mark, the absence of Bobby’s lucky Yankee hat was actually a blessing in disguise. But there’s more to the story.

According to her account of the event, even if she had broken her world record timing in that race, her performance would have been counted. Another climax! But did it direct any of her technical issues in the race? SML didn’t indicate the existence of any such reason, though. Then? 

In the mentioned event of the Music City Track Carnival Festival, Sydney noticed a grave mistake. Per the Olympian, the host “had placed one of the hurdles in the wrong location.” That mistake led to a bigger outcome in the lens of World Athletics. How? The highest track and field organization would never ratify a record that was made on a faulty track. Did Sydney’s support staffers spot that major issue? Not any serious account has come on that matter. But Sydney’s line says that her coach, Bobby Kersee, broke into a laugh after watching her performance. 

In fact, the four-time Olympic champion had to scratch her head to find the exact reason behind that laughter. All she knew about Bobby wanting her to wrap up the race in 53 and 52 seconds. But she ended her run in a much lower time, 51.61 seconds. Therefore, failing to meet her coach’s expectations haunted her‌. But the post-event circumstances were different. So, the reason created a few waves in her mind. But again, things came down to Bobby’s Yankee hat. 

Meanwhile, the realization of the exact reason made the athlete write, “He was also glad I didn’t break it because he wasn’t wearing his lucky Yankees hat.” That’s how things ended for the mentor-mentee duo in June 2022. But they didn’t have to wait long to witness another world record on the track. 

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone took a few more days 

In the sunny days of June, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone came just shy of claiming her third world record. But like any champion, she wasn’t going to stay quiet for long. That same month, she unleashed her brilliance on the track once again. After testing her skills at the Music City Track Carnival Festival, Sydney made her way to the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships in Oregon. This was her first major competition since the Tokyo Olympics, and she was ready to make a statement. And boy, did she.

Starting off with a solid 54.11 seconds in the prelims, she saved the best for last. In the final, Sydney dropped a bombshell, finishing in 51.41 seconds—a new world record and her third one to date! As for coach Bobby Kersee’s prized Yankee hat? Well, there’s been no word on whether it was retired, but it seems unlikely to last much longer in 2022. Why?

One world record in a year could never be enough to satisfy Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s hunger for greatness. So, she came back for more, and this time, she set her sights on an even bigger stage. On July 22, Sydney shaved an incredible 0.73 seconds off her previous best, setting a new world record of 50.68 seconds in the women’s 400m hurdles. And where did this magic happen? On the grand stage of the World Athletics Championships in Oregon.

That marked her fourth world record, and it’s safe to say the athletic world had never quite seen anyone like her. Who could even come close to matching her dominance? Well, if we’re talking about someone who came close to achieving the unthinkable in their prime, only Edwin Moses stands in the same conversation.

But let’s not forget, Moses dominated the men’s field, while Sydney’s rewriting history on the women’s side. So, is Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone the Bionic Woman? You tell us. But one thing’s for sure—she’s definitely got the track world’s attention, and she’s not slowing down anytime soon!