Dalilah Muhammad Beams as Rivals Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone & Co. Receive Major Honor Ahead of Grand Slam Track’s Philly Edition

Dalilah Muhammad, the very rival who once handed Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone her first Olympic defeat, is now in praise of her competitor. “When you have someone that’s such a strong competitor as Sydney, you can’t mess up,” Dalilah had said after her victory. Always quick to show respect, she once again proved that true sportsmanship goes beyond the competition! What gesture are we talking about? Well, ask Sydney—because when an idol claps back with love, it definitely means something!

On May 31, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will take to the track once again—this time at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, as part of the next leg of the Grand Slam Track. But before she laces up for the race, something special has already happened. Just two days earlier, Sydney, along with Gabby Thomas and Alexis Holmes, stepped into a very different kind of arena: Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. The assignment? Throwing out the first pitch. The first pitch is more than just fun—it’s a ceremonial honor, reserved for special guests who’ve made their mark, and the athletes fit in entirely.

Dressed in bright Phillies red, the trio delivered. Smooth, strong throws—game face on, crowd loving it. GST’s official Instagram shared the moment, captioning it with a playful flex: “Crushed the first pitch.” But the real MVP moment came in the comments. Dalilah Muhammad—yes, that Dalilah—dropped in with a single emoji: “😍”. No extra words. No need. Just pure, supportive admiration from the trailblazer herself. However, Dalilah hasn’t cleared anything regarding her participation in the Philly edition of GST. In fact, after the Jamaican stop of the league, she has yet to enter the contest, or rather, face Sydney on the track. 

Even on the other side, Sydney has never been shy about giving flowers where they’re due. Last year, in a heartfelt Instagram tribute, she wrote, “Anna [Cockrell] said it best, you’ve changed the game. Thank you for pushing so many, including myself to be our best. #legend.” And if that wasn’t enough, Sydney doubled down earlier this year before making her highly anticipated switch to the Jamaican chapter of Grand Slam Track.

At a press conference, with Dalilah just a few chairs away, she said: “Dalilah, you truly did just change the game for all of us. Seeing you break that world record after so long of it being there just inspired all of us.” Dalilah’s response? A warm smile and an ovation—clapping for the athlete who once looked up to her, now standing beside her as an equal.

Now, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is set to make a bold move in Philadelphia—she’ll be lining up for her first-ever professional 100m race. That’s right. After clinching two Grand Slam Track titles in the women’s 400m hurdles, Sydney is stepping into the short sprints this time.

So, what sparked this sudden switch? According to Sydney, it’s all part of a bigger plan: refining her sprint mechanics, improving her block starts, and sharpening her hurdle technique. It’s a strategic shift she believes will pay off in the long run. But while this new chapter is exciting, fans will once again miss out on seeing one of track and field’s most iconic rivalries: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone vs. Dalilah Muhammad. And that absence hits harder this time, because this season marks Dalilah’s farewell to the professional stage.

Throughout the years, Sydney and Dalilah have delivered some of the sport’s most unforgettable showdowns. Not seeing them share the track again is a bittersweet moment for fans who’ve watched their fierce yet respectful rivalry elevate the 400m hurdles to legendary status.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Dalilah Muhammad’s rivalry goes a long way

Once upon a time, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was the rising star, the prodigy everyone was watching. She had the talent, the focus, and the future ahead of her. But back then? Dalilah Muhammad reigned supreme. Olympic gold medalist. World champion. The one who had been tested and triumphed.

In 2019, their rivalry caught fire. First, Sydney took down Dalilah at Oslo’s Bislett Games. It felt like the torch was being passed. But Dalilah wasn’t done. At the U.S. Championships, with the world watching, she stormed back with a world record—52.20 seconds. Sydney ran brilliantly, but Dalilah stole the show. Then came the 2019 World Championships in Doha. Sydney was stronger, more locked in. She ran 52.23, a time that would’ve secured gold on almost any stage. But Dalilah had more to give. She ran 52.16—another world record, another heartbreak for Sydney.

In Far Beyond Gold, Sydney revealed just how much it rattled her. “Once I’d beaten Dalilah, I’d naively thought I knew what she had in the tank,” she wrote. “Yet, she beat me. Not just beat me but demolished me—and took the record I had been dreaming of with her.” That was then.

Since that unforgettable night in Doha, Dalilah Muhammad hasn’t beaten Sydney in the 400m hurdles. The scoreboard now reads: Sydney 8 – Dalilah 6. The pupil became the powerhouse, rewriting history and records alike. Surely, their rivalry lit up the sport—but now, it’s Sydney who holds the crown. Dalilah may have forged the path, but Sydney blazed it into legend.