“Competition is building, and athletes will be paid.” Track and field insider Rori Dunk’s straightforward but revolutionary tweet, as the World Athletics Ultimate Championship has been announced and will make its debut in 2026. The reward? Well, each event winner will be able to win an incredible $150,000 reward. This meet, which is set for September 11–13, 2026, in Budapest, is a long-overdue attempt to elevate track and field to the same level of marketing prominence as other sports. As far as earning from the events is concerned, recently, Grand Slam Track has also made waves.

In Michael Johnson’s brainchild, the Grand Slam Track Series in Kingston, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won the long hurdles championship. She won the 400m, finishing the distance in 50.32 seconds, and it helped Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone earn $100,000 as a gold medalist. While prize money from individual events like these adds to an athlete’s earnings, long-term financial success often comes from deals, endorsements, and sponsorships. In this regard, the 25-year-old McLaughlin-Levrone made headlines with her lucrative partnership with New Balance. Let’s dive into the details, from sponsorship deals to potential earnings. Here’s a closer look at the financial side of her track stardom.

Sydney McLaughlin’s New Balance contract details

Although McLaughlin-Levrone is only 25 years old, she has already made a name for herself as one of the best sprinters of all time in the 400-meter hurdles. With a strong effort, she successfully defended her Olympic championship and set a new world record for the sixth time. However, before entering into the partnership with New Balance, American hurdler Sydney McLaughlin won the NCAA outdoor 400 m hurdles title in 2018 and set a world junior record in the 400 m indoors with a clocking time of 50.36. And if that wasn’t enough, in 2018 itself, Sydney’s performance of 52.75, the fastest time in the world, set the World Junior and NCAA records for the intermediate hurdles event.

Talking about the New Balance deal, Sydney McLaughlin said, “New Balance has a long-standing history as an excellent running company and they are the perfect partner for me.” She further added, “I’m thrilled to join the Team New Balance family, a brand that not only shares the same values and principles that are important to me but also supports its athletes on and off the track.” McLaughlin-Levrone reportedly signed a deal worth $1.5 million with New Balance yearly.

Vice President of Sports Marketing at New Balance, Ray Hilvert, said, “Sydney is an amazing talent and has a very bright future. We are excited to have her join the Team New Balance family.”

As per the New Balance website, Hilvert further said, “We build innovative products for some of the fastest athletes in the world, and we look forward to working with Sydney as she continues to outrun the competition.” And with this, one question can come up: Does Sydney McLaughlin-Leverone have her customized spikes?

Does New Balance make custom spikes for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone?

Sydney McLaughlin is a well-known name in the track and field world and has been associated with New Balance since October 2018. Being one of the top athletes, Sydney McLaughlin has her racing spikes customized by New Balance. As part of her collaboration with the brand, she has access to specialized footwear that caters to her performance requirements.

For example, during the 2024 Paris Olympics, McLaughlin-Levrone utilized the New Balance SC MDX V3, a middle-distance race spike designed for ultra-lightweight, cutting-edge performance on the track. This spike was included in her limited-edition Signature Collection with New Balance. With the upcoming second slam of the Grand Slam Track ahead, Sydney McLaughlin-Leverone is all set to compete from May 2 to 4 in Miami.