This is a piece on the finest women’s 400m hurdler of all time, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. Deji Ogeyingbo asks the good questions about where she goes next? Can she conquer the heights of the 400 meters?
The next chapter for Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone…
When Sydney Mclaughlin shaved 0.73 seconds off her previous World record mark set at Hayward Field in June by claiming the world title in 50.68s, it made her the first woman to run under 51 seconds in the history of the women’s 400mH. As the time flashed up the screens with many observers in awe of what she had just done, the American squatted, breathing softly, she looked around the stadium as she tried to appreciate what she had just achieved.
For a moment, it all felt surprising. The numbers did not make sense. 13 months before this moment, no woman in history had broken 52 seconds. But here she was, living in the dreams of millions of women who could only imagine what she was feeling. Tired. No smile, but all grimace. And not because she didn’t enjoy the moment; the performance had taken a toll on her. It was almost like she borrowed strength from the next day to put up that performance.
So, when McLaughlin picked up the gong for the best female athlete in 2022, it was a reward for success. This time she smiled as she posed for pictures with HRH Prince Albert of Monaco and other members of the World athletics family.
Athletes like her are rare gems. The 23-year-old American has set world records in every age category since she was 14 and shows no signs of stopping. It’s easier said than done. A lot of precocious youngsters had shown promise in their youth and junior careers and buckled under the pressure when they stepped up to the plate into the senior cadet.
Very few athletes in history come close to how they have dominated their event that they make every other competitor play second fiddle. Mondo Duplantis immediately comes to mind, but it is with the great Usain Bolt that McLaughlin shares a lot of similarities.
McLaughlin won titles at the Youth and Junior level and in 2021, she went on to win a very first Olympic title. The only title Bolt didn’t win was at the Youth level, but like it’s already established, the Jamaican became a star and popped up into the scene in 2022. The 400m Hurdles might not have the appeal of the 100m but in the grand scheme of things, breaking records in both events is extremely difficult to do.
At the press…
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