Sydney McLaughlin-Leverone Backed for Surprisingly Poor Performance as American Legend Jumps to Track and Field Star’s Defense

In a sport where precision, rhythm, and muscle memory can make or break a race, switching events is never easy. Especially when you’re already one of the best to ever do it. But Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has never been one to stay in her lane, literally or figuratively. Known for rewriting the record books in the 400m hurdles, the Olympic champion stunned the track world when she lined up for the 100m hurdles at the Grand Slam Track Meet in Philadelphia. This wasn’t a publicity stunt. It was Sydney genuinely testing her limits in an event she’s only run five times since 2014.

You could feel the buzz. McLaughlin-Levrone, just 25, stood on the line at Franklin Field facing off against some of the best sprint hurdlers in the world. Most notably, a sharp group of Jamaicans with something to prove. Sydney herself admitted, “It’s definitely been a shift.” And shift it was. Unlike her dominance in the 400m hurdles or the flat 400m, this time she looked human. The result wasn’t a statement win. Instead, it was a humbling step into a world of shorter barriers and tighter margins.

Now, American sprint icon Justin Gatlin is weighing in on what it all means. On the latest episode of his Ready Set Go podcast, Justin Gatlin broke down Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s 100m hurdles race with the insight only a former world champion could offer. “I think, well, she only had two weeks of prep time for getting the rust knocked off for the 100-meter hurdles,” he explained, acknowledging just how unfamiliar this race was for Sydney.

“She’s never run a professional 100 meters before,” he added, emphasizing the steep learning curve she faced. Gatlin highlighted that this wasn’t just a shorter version of what she’s mastered. It was a completely different technical world. “She had to learn certain little tricks and trades that she didn’t have to use in the 400 hurdles before.” Still, he remained supportive. Gatlin went on to dissect the race itself, pointing out just how close Sydney was to the leaders early on.

“She’s stride for stride with those girls—and those are the girls who are some of the top 100-meter hurdlers in the world right now.” But somewhere around the middle of the race, the tide began to shift. “As you get between about hurdle five, six, and seven, these girls are starting to snap down off the top of the hurdle to be able to generate and create that next gear,” he explained. That’s where Sydney lost ground.

“She waited a little too long. While they started to snap down, she reacted to them snapping down.” The delay led to a clip on hurdle seven, which threw off her rhythm. It showed in the final results. Jamaican star Ackera Nugent surged to victory with a sharp 12.44, collecting 12 points for her team. Tia Jones wasn’t far behind with 12.60 for 8 points. Tonea Marshall just edged Sydney with a 12.68, while McLaughlin-Levrone finished fifth in 12.70, securing 4 points.

It was a tough day. No denying that. For context, the last time Sydney placed fifth in any major race was nearly a decade ago, during the 2016 Rio Olympics, when she was just 16. This time, though, it’s different. She’s not a teenage phenom anymore. She’s an established legend stepping into the unknown, and the world is watching.

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