In what could be a game-changing twist for the track and field world, Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has hinted at the possibility of stepping outside her usual lane to compete in the 100-meter hurdles at an upcoming championship-level meet. The potential switch from her signature 400-meter hurdles event to the short hurdles is sending waves of excitement and speculation through the athletics community.
McLaughlin-Levrone, widely regarded as one of the greatest 400m hurdlers in history, has already made her mark on the sport with her astonishing world record of 50.68 seconds—set during the 2022 World Championships in Eugene. That performance not only solidified her dominance in the long hurdles but also put her in the conversation as one of the most technically gifted athletes to ever grace the sport. Now, with murmurs of a shift toward the 100-meter hurdles, fans and analysts are buzzing with anticipation.
The 100-meter hurdles is a completely different beast. It demands a blistering start, lightning-fast footwork, and seamless rhythm between the 10 hurdles. Yet, McLaughlin-Levrone has already proven she possesses the raw speed and elite hurdling technique to thrive in this shorter discipline. While her primary focus has always been the 400m hurdles, where she has earned Olympic and world titles, she is no stranger to versatility. She has shown remarkable promise in the flat 400 meters and even clocked impressive times in shorter sprints during her collegiate and early professional career.
If she does indeed compete in the 100-meter hurdles at the next major meet—potentially one of the season’s remaining Diamond League events or a high-profile invitational—it could mark a pivotal moment in her career. It would also add an intriguing layer to the upcoming Olympic season, where athletes begin to experiment with different events ahead of the Paris 2024 Games. For McLaughlin-Levrone, this might be a strategic move—an opportunity to sharpen her speed, test her limits, and perhaps even challenge the current elite in a new event.
Of course, this wouldn’t be the first time an elite 400m hurdler dipped into the sprint hurdles. Past greats like Dalilah Muhammad and even former stars such as Sally Gunnell have dabbled across multiple disciplines. But McLaughlin-Levrone’s entry into the short hurdles would be unprecedented in today’s landscape given her current dominance in the 400m hurdles and the potential to redefine yet another event.
The idea of McLaughlin-Levrone facing off against the world’s best sprint hurdlers—including reigning champions and seasoned veterans—adds drama and excitement to the upcoming meets. Fans are eager to see how her fluid stride, exceptional hurdle clearance, and elite racing instincts translate over 100 meters of rapid-fire barriers.
While nothing has been officially confirmed yet, the buzz surrounding this potential move continues to build. Whether it’s a one-off experiment or the beginning of a dual-event campaign, one thing is clear—Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone thrives on redefining expectations.
If she lines up in the 100-meter hurdles at the next Slam, expect fireworks. Track and field could be on the verge of witnessing yet another historic chapter in the incredible journey of this generational talent.