As the Paris Olympics drew its curtains, it was time for Los Angeles to step into the enthusiasm. After all, the grandest sporting spectacle is set to return in 2028, the first time since 1984. 2x Olympic 400m hurdles champion Sydney McLaughlin Levrone, like many, could not stay away from the excitement. “It’s super-exciting to be able to have the Games in LA, where I’m training right now. I drive by the Coliseum at times and imagine what it is going to look like during the Olympics. I hope LA is going to be prepared for that moment. I know it will be. It’s a really special opportunity to have the Olympics in our backyard,” Sydney had said in December. Less than a month after that, as the wildfire continues to ravage the state, Sydney’s enthusiasm has turned into concern. And why not? LA has given her a lot in 2024.

Ahead of the Paris Olympics, Sydney made her individual track debut of the 2024 season at the Oxy Invitational in Los Angeles on May 4. She produced an impressive performance, claiming the 100m hurdles event with a time of 12.71 seconds, just 0.06s shy of the personal best she set in 2021. It was followed by another win in the 200m, recording a wind-aided time of 22.38s. Just two weeks after this, it was time for more fireworks in Los Angeles.

Shocking everyone, Sydney won the 200m race at the 2024 LA Grand Prix on May 18. Not only that, but she also set a new personal best time of 22.07 seconds, a mere five hundredths of a second off the world lead. And whom did she defeat? The likes of Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Gabby Thomas and double relay world champion Abby Steiner. In short, the two races in LA were succinct hints of what was coming in Paris. So, looking at LA burning, all Sydney had to ask for were prayers.

Taking to her Instagram, the 4x Olympic gold medalist wrote, “Pray for Los Angeles.” Sydney’s coach Bob Kersee had been an assistant coach for the University of California, Los Angeles, for four years. Back in 1984, Kersee took up the reins as the head coach and after he built his reputation there, he took McLaughlin-Levrone under his wings to transform her into a champion. Moreover, after tying the knot with her NFL husband, Andre Levrone Jr., McLaughlin-Levrone herself has a home in Los Angeles that continues to battle the deadly flares for four days.

The Palisades fire has been the largest and has scorched the area adjacent to the seaside ranging from Malibu to regions of Santa Monica. This and the Eaton fire now rank in the top five most destructive fires in California’s history. Unfortunately, over time, the wildfire gained ground and became uncontainable, spreading to over 17000 acres of land. According to reports from Cal Fire, the actual reason why the fire started in the first place is still unknown. 

But according to experts, the strong winds coming from Santa Ana were responsible for the rapid spreading of the wildfire. As many as 30,000 residents have been forced to evacuate their houses in the unfortunate carnage. There have also been reports of at least 5 people losing their lives in the unfortunate incident.

But, L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna said, “We do, unfortunately, anticipate that deaths will go up because of the destruction that we’re seeing. We’re not able to get in there in a manner — because it’s still not safe — to really do a thorough search.” While the disturbing scenes from her beloved are sure to trouble her, just the second day of the year 2025 brought saddening news for her, as one of her mentors who was instrumental in turning her into a hurdles phenom, passed away.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone crestfallen after sudden demise of track icon

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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has also been grappling with the immeasurable loss as track and field legend Ralph Mann breathed his last on January 2 at the age of 75. Mann profoundly shaped the career from the early stages of Sydney’s quest on the tracks. The 75-year-old Olympic medalist and biomechanics expert succumbed to pancreatic cancer, leaving behind a legacy that McLaughlin-Levrone holds close to her heart.

Sharing her grief publicly, McLaughlin-Levrone posted on Instagram, “So many people were impacted by Ralph both on and off the track. He will truly be missed.” Her words indeed underscored the weight of this loss. Her heartfelt tribute reflects how significant of a role Mann once played in helping her overcome career-defining hurdles, both literally and figuratively. The track icon’s expertise and guidance came at a critical moment in McLaughlin-Levrone’s career.

After narrowly losing to Dalilah Muhammad at the 2019 World Championships, McLaughlin-Levrone turned to Mann for answers. “What the hell do I have to do to beat her?” she recalled asking him. His candid analysis revealed flaws in her technique, noting, “She couldn’t hurdle with her opposite leg. With her primary leg, she was mediocre at best.” It was a turning point that sparked a transformation under her coach, Bob Kersee, who constantly worked alongside Mann to refine her form.

The results? History! McLaughlin-Levrone shattered records en route to gold at the Tokyo Olympics. Such a huge feat was celebrated by Mann as a testament to her resilience and his revolutionary biomechanics work. Mann’s loss is deeply felt, but his contributions to the sport and McLaughlin-Levrone’s career will remain indelible.