As Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone continues her motherhood journey away from competition, her biggest rival is still finding ways to stay in the limelight even at 36 years old. Two-time Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad, who finished seventh in 54.82 seconds in the 2025 World Championships final, had earlier suggested that this season could be her final year in athletics. But that plan now looks less certain after her return to racing at the Diamond League in Rome.

On June 4, Muhammad opened her 2026 campaign at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea in Rome, stepping into her first 400m hurdles race of the season at the Stadio Olimpico. The race was fast from the start. Emma Zapletalova won the race in 52.58 seconds, extending her impressive streak following her victory in Rabat in 52.82. Anna Cockrell of the USA was close behind in 52.77. Muhammad finished the season opener in 53.39 seconds, with a fourth-place finish, but not a podium finish.

Even without a medal finish the race carried weight! It was her first hurdles appearance of the season and a clear step forward from her 2025 World Championships performance. Though her personal best of 51.58 is still better, she might break it after all; she doesn’t seem to be retiring anytime soon. As after the race, she spoke about her shifting mindset around retirement, explaining that her decision was not as final as it once seemed.

“I think several things went into that decision. Mainly, I just didn’t end the season (2025) how I wanted to end. I had really great momentum, but I got injured…” she said to Citius Mag. That injury-filled stretch defined much of her 2025 season. At the World Championships in Tokyo, Muhammad arrived with Achilles discomfort and a late hip issue, yet still lined up for the final. But she finished seventh in 54.82 seconds.

“It’s definitely not the race I wanted,” she said afterward in Tokyo. “The thing about getting older in this sport is you have to deal with injuries. Track and field is demanding sport. You have to be 100 per cent on the day… I have been dealing with so much backstage.” Despite everything, she still described the moment as meaningful, sharing the track with her training partners and reaching yet another global final even in a difficult state.

And now, Muhammad appears focused on competing again rather than stepping away. “This year, especially with the Ultimate Championships, that’s something new…” she said. “I kind of like to be out there and not just watching it. So, that was a factor. And I think just knowing that my body’s capable if I play it a little smarter...” So while Muhammad is finding her way back into rhythm, the bigger question sits on the other side of the track.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone targets 2028 return as Women’s 400mh keeps changing

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is currently away from competition, focusing on motherhood as she prepares to welcome her first child in July. But even during this break, her long-term goals are already set. She’s already stated that a return is imminent, and Los Angeles 2028 is very much on her radar.

“My number one goal right now is to deliver my daughter healthy have a healthy baby in July, and then we’ll start working our way back for the Olympics,” she said. If everything goes as planned her return to full training would likely begin in late 2026. But the path back will not be simple for LA28 Olympics.

The women’s 400m hurdles is no longer shaped by a single rivalry. The field has widened, with athletes like Femke Bol, Anna Cockrell, and others consistently pushing fast times. And then there is Dalilah Muhammad, the name that still carries history in this event.

Their rivalry is one of the most closely followed in modern track history. It began in 2019 at the World Championships in Doha, where Muhammad ran a world record 52.16 to win gold, with McLaughlin taking silver.

By the 2021 US Olympic Trials, McLaughlin had already closed the gap, winning in 51.90 world record performance. A few weeks later in Tokyo she won gold in 51.46. Muhammad was right behind her in 51.58 a personal best that showed she was still at the very top. Since then, the field has shifted.

McLaughlin-Levrone has continued to lower expectations of what is possible in the event, and Muhammad has fought through injuries and inconsistent performances. That is what makes McLaughlin-Levrone’s return even more interesting. But there is also the question of double duty. Along with the 400m hurdles, she has shown strong ability in 400m. But at major championships, scheduling often places the hurdles rounds and 400m races close together. That leaves very little recovery time.

For now, everything points toward a gradual build back toward 2028. But when she returns, she will not find the same race she left behind.