“I’m going to put my best foot forward, I’m going to execute well and compete hard. But whatever the result it has no bearing on my peace.” That’s how Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone set the tone at the press conference ahead of the Philadelphia stop of Grand Slam Track. Calm, focused, and grounded—yet stepping into unfamiliar territory. Translation? And why all the buzz around Sydney this time? 

It’s because the reigning queen of the 400m hurdles is shaking things up. She’s already 4-for-4 in the women’s long hurdles group across previous Grand Slam Track meets. But in Philly, she’s switching lanes—literally. For the first time in her professional career, Sydney will compete in the women’s short hurdles group, with her sights set on qualifying for the 100m hurdles/100m sprint double. The twist? She hasn’t run a 100m flat since her college days at Kentucky. So, Franklin Field is about to witness a new chapter in Sydney’s story—and she’s not going in unprepared. In fact, to get ready for this bold shift, Sydney turned to one of the fastest starters on the planet: 2-time Olympian Trayvon Bromell.

“It’s been great,” Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone said on May 30. “I mean we’ve gotten a few you know starts in getting that drive phase just some relaxing sprinting and yeah Trayvon’s been really helpful. Facetimed him asked a few questions about my block so that was really cool just to get a sprinter’s perspective on it one of the best starters in the world so yeah just going to try to go out there and execute as best as I can and work a different side of sprinting for me.” It seems like the help has come at the right time and from the right individual. 

Trayvon Bromell is seriously back—and he’s wasting no time reminding the world who he is. After a hiatus, the two-time World Championship medalist made a thunderous return this season, clocking a blistering 9.91 seconds in his season opener at the PURE Athletics Global Invitational. Not only is it the second-fastest 100m time in the world this year, but it’s also Bromell’s quickest since 2022. A statement performance, no doubt—one that proves he’s all business in 2025.

Interestingly, the connection runs deeper than track. Bromell is a close friend of Sydney’s husband, former NFL wide receiver Andre Levrone Jr., making the mentorship feel natural. In fact, Sydney had been studying Bromell’s sprint videos long before their recent collaboration. “I’ve watched a lot his starts, specifically, just trying to understand some of the shin angles,” she shared with The New York Times. “It is fascinating getting to learn something that I didn’t know before.” From FaceTime calls to block critiques, Bromell has given Sydney a sprinter’s lens into the fine art of acceleration. Now, as race day approaches, fans are buzzing to see how the 4-time Olympic champion will apply her new knowledge under the spotlight of Franklin Field. But not everyone is convinced this experiment will be seamless.

The track and field legend explains the hard part of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s journey

On May 29, during an interview with WGN News, Grand Slam Track founder and sprinting legend Michael Johnson delivered a message that lit a fire under one of the sport’s brightest stars. His words weren’t just commentary—they were a challenge. “Sydney just running the hurdles and winning, doesn’t qualify her as the champion,” Johnson said. “It puts her in position to be the champion,” he said. “She has to then come back in another race. In this case, this weekend, it’ll be the 100 meter dash, the 100 meter flat. And she’s gotta perform well enough there to score enough points to win.” So, in Philly, one win isn’t enough. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has to dominate twice.

However, for Sydney, it’s not just about proving she can win. It’s about showing she can thrive outside the event that made her a global icon. It’s a test of speed, versatility, and resilience—and an opportunity to stake her claim as more than a hurdles specialist. She’s aiming to become a multi-event powerhouse. It’s a bold pivot. A high-risk, high-reward move. But if there’s one athlete who’s shown time and again that she can rise to the moment, it’s Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.