“One reason Sydney was the first athlete I signed is because I identify with her. I was also criticized for not showing personality because I was all business on the track, which is how I got the results. After the race is where you get to see my personality.” These were the words of Michael Johnson when he signed Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone for the Grand Slam Track last year. And Sydney? She hasn’t disappointed a soul between the blocks.

She’s dominated the first two meets of the Grand Slam Track league’s inaugural season, sweeping both the 400m hurdles and the 400m flat in Kingston and Miami, bagging two consecutive Slam titles and being $200k richer. But while McLaughlin-Levrone is the face of this new era in track and field, her presence off the track has stirred up more than just whispers. One prominent voice has come forward—another elite track star—and he’s asking some pointed questions.

The Grand Slam Track League was meant to shake things up and to finally build a consistent, fan-driven, athlete-first track product that blends competition with cultural connection. But let’s be honest: after two high-profile meets, it hasn’t pulled the numbers it was hoping for. Engagement? Still niche. And the league’s one of the biggest stars, the one who could change that narrative, hasn’t pushed much, according to Fitzroy Junior Dunkley.

The Rio Olympics silver medalist in the 4*400m relay, who goes by the name of FitzDunk on X, has watched the first two Grand Slam meets closely. Impressed by the races but frustrated by the silence. “Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is Grand Slam’s most prominent athlete,” he wrote on X. “She was the first athlete introduced when the league announced its formation. In 2025, she has only posted 5 times about the Grand Slam on her Instagram to her 1.5 million followers.”

“They’ve posted clips of Sydney. They’ve teased behind-the-scenes footage. They’ve built content about her,” FitzDunk continued. “But here’s the issue: none of it lives on her page. And when it comes to influence, where something is posted matters. Think about this like the NBA.” He explains: “Would it make sense for LeBron James to skip posting about opening night, the All-Star Game, or the Finals? Of course not. Because his audience amplifies the league’s story. It makes the event feel bigger.”

And fans? They crave more than medals. “They want to hear from her. When that insight comes directly from her, it builds trust.” FitzDunk sums it up: “The league can’t carry her brand. It’s about alignment: 🎯📲🚀. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone isn’t just a superstar! She’s a cultural icon! Grand Slam has a generational opportunity here. Help her tell her story on her terms, but make sure it’s seen where it matters, on her platforms.”

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is lowkey on social media

While she has a massive presence—1.5 million strong on Instagram—Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone isn’t one to flood your feed. In fact, as of May 2025, she’s only posted around 110 times. Do the math, and that’s roughly two posts every couple of weeks. That’s not what you’d expect from one of track and field’s biggest stars, right? But that’s kind of the point.

Sydney has always done things differently. Right before the 2016 Olympic Trials — her first real taste of global pressure—Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone decided to disappear from social media altogether. “I’d deleted my accounts a few weeks before the Olympic Trials,” she wrote in her book Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith.

She continued with, “Throughout high school, I’d been active on social media, checking my Instagram account multiple times a day. I liked posting what I was doing and seeing what my friends were up to.” But something shifted. The apps that once felt like a connection started weighing her down. “By the Olympic Trials, I had deleted Instagram and Twitter after an incident earlier that year,” Sydney revealed.

“What used to be a place where I connected with friends had become a source of turmoil?” And when she returned, she did so on her terms. Her posts aren’t daily updates or race-day countdowns. They’re highlights. Carefully chosen moments. And while we don’t know the reasons behind more posts on Grand Slam Track. But one thing is for sure, Sydney, being Sydney, keeps some of it just for herself.