Amid criticism that Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone doesn’t compete in enough meets outside of major global championships, American former sprinter Justin Gatlin has come to her defense, highlighting the strategy behind her selective race schedule.
At just 25, McLaughlin-Levrone has already solidified her status as arguably the greatest sprinter in the 400m hurdles, setting a new world record for the sixth time and successfully defending her Olympic title with a commanding performance in Paris last month.
In a race that epitomized her unrivaled talent and poise, McLaughlin-Levrone led from start to finish, leaving even the formidable Femke Bol in her wake. Her victory, a seamless blend of grace and power, underscored her relentless commitment to maintaining her edge over the competition.
With that triumph, McLaughlin-Levrone concluded her season and is now on holiday, recharging for the next year. Meanwhile, her competitors continue to participate in various meets, including the Diamond League.
This has sparked criticism from some fans, questioning her reluctance to compete more frequently to keep the spotlight on the hurdle rivalry.
However, Gatlin, speaking on his Ready Set Go podcast, drew parallels between McLaughlin-Levrone and legendary Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who, at a certain point in his career, only raced when it truly mattered to solidify his legacy.
“I have been there before. When Bolt got to a certain level, he did not run that many races anymore. He only ran when it counted, which is, we are going to Olympic trials, we are going to Olympics, we are going to nationals, we are going to worlds,” Gatlin explained.
Gatlin emphasized that this approach is what fans have asked for, wanting to witness McLaughlin-Levrone break more records but at the highest levels of competition.
“She is not doing a one-off race somewhere and not showing up for the Olympics and running sub-par. She is giving you A-plus performances in Olympic competitions. She is breaking a world record and getting the gold medal. That is someone’s dream. You want to win it all in one race.”
Addressing the potential for overexposure, Gatlin added, “If Sydney was in her last races and she was still out there beating the field by almost a mile, you would get bored of that to the point her time is not going to affect you anymore.
“Allow her to be special and unique. Allow her to go out with the intent to break a world record as well as move a needle in her event to where it has never been before. Six times she has run faster than any human has ever done on the planet. Six times.”
