If you’re already the best in one event, why even step outside your comfort zone? For most, dominating the 400m hurdles with Olympic golds and a world record would be enough, but not for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. At the Grand Slam Track meet in Philadelphia, the four-time Olympic champ decided to break new ground. She traded in her usual rhythm of the 400m hurdles to test herself in the explosive world of the 100m dash. The result? Not a win, but definitely a statement.

Before the meet, Sydney made it clear this wasn’t about medals, it was about challenging her limits and helping the sport grow. “Being able to…. challenge yourself, using some of those as training blocks. I think it’s going to be really cool to see that dynamic and see the sport grow in popularity,” she said ahead of the competition. That fearless mindset saw her step into the women’s short hurdles group in Philly, an arena she’s rarely entered. First, she clocked 12.70 seconds in the 100m hurdles for a respectable fifth-place finish, then returned the next day to line up for her first-ever professional 100m flat race.

Sunday’s 100m final featured sprint powerhouses like Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent, who was fresh off a hurdles win the day before. Nugent stole the show again, blazing through the finish in 11.11 seconds, while McLaughlin-Levrone chased her down for second with 11.21 seconds. Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji claimed third at 11.41. For someone known for owning the 400m, Sydney showed she could hold her own in the speed-heavy sprint world. Prior to this, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s last 100-meter race occurred in 2018 during her collegiate years at the University of Kentucky, where she ran a wind-assisted time of 11.07 seconds. And no, she didn’t walk away disappointed.

Instead, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone took to Instagram with grace and gratitude, sharing race-day photos and writing: “Took a risk, and regret nothing! Hills and valleys alike make the journey beautiful. Philly you were amazing! 🫶🏽.” That caption, paired with a calm confidence in her post-race demeanor, revealed what really sets her apart. She’s not chasing applause; she’s chasing growth. So yeah, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone didn’t win the 100m, but she won something bigger: respect for daring to evolve in public. But at the same time behind all her races is the bigger picture! What?

Once a ghost on the circuit, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is now racing full throttle

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has always been criticized for not racing enough. Fans have long argued that her limited appearances on the track make it hard to see her full potential and up until now, it’s been hard to argue with that. In 2022 and 2023, she was practically a ghost outside of major meets. Even in 2024, her season didn’t really ramp up until mid-year. But 2025? This year’s already different. Sydney’s showing up, stepping out of her comfort zone, and racing more than we’ve seen in years. She skipped her signature 400m hurdles at the Grand Slam Track in Philadelphia and instead ran both the 100m hurdles and, for the first time professionally, the 100m flat. She didn’t win but that’s not the point.

These aren’t her usual events, but she took them on with confidence. “I think, you know, the only thing that’s different is kind of just traveling to the Slams,” she told Citius Mag after the meet. “Other than that, it’s really the same kind of training.” And that training? It’s translating into racing. With five races already added to her season just through the Grand Slam Track series, Sydney’s not hiding anymore. She’s giving fans what they’ve been asking for and letting her performances, win or lose, do the talking.

But make no mistake, this is all part of a bigger plan. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s not just experimenting for fun. She’s sharpening her form and testing her range ahead of the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, where all eyes will be on her return to the 400m hurdles. The criticism that she’s too selective, or not competitive enough outside her main event? She’s slowly outrunning all of that. So whether she’s finishing first or not, one thing is crystal clear, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is showing up, switching things up, and getting ready to take Tokyo by storm.