The energy in Eugene, Oregon, is building fast as the 2025 Prefontaine Classic edges closer, and this year’s edition promises a special kind of electricity. One of the sport’s brightest stars, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, will take center stage at Hayward Field on July 5. Known globally as the reigning queen of the 400m hurdles, she’s about to try something fresh on this stage — tackling the flat 400m for the first time at this prestigious meet.

McLaughlin-Levrone’s decision to race the 400m without hurdles has drawn as much curiosity as it has excitement. At just 25 years old, she already boasts an astonishing résumé: multiple Olympic gold medals, world titles, and a world record that redefined what was thought possible in her signature event. Yet, for all she has achieved, the American superstar is stepping onto the track in 2025 with a new kind of awareness — one shaped by the reality that her competitive career will not last forever.

In the buildup to the Prefontaine Classic, McLaughlin-Levrone has confirmed that thoughts of retirement are now part of her long-term planning. While she has not set a final date to hang up her spikes, she has acknowledged that the LA28 Olympics could serve as the fitting final chapter of her competitive journey. The idea of finishing her career at a home Games, in front of family, friends, and a supportive American crowd, adds a deeply personal layer to her decisions in the years ahead.

This makes her Prefontaine Classic debut all the more meaningful. For McLaughlin-Levrone, it’s not just another race — it’s part of a carefully considered path toward the ultimate farewell. Competing in the flat 400m allows her to keep building her speed base, explore new competitive challenges, and, perhaps most importantly, preserve her body from the relentless technical demands of hurdling at the elite level.

Fans will see her in a field stacked with world-class talent, and the race will offer a preview of what she might accomplish if she chooses to focus more heavily on the 400m in her final competitive years. Whether she sticks with this flat sprint, returns to the hurdles, or balances both, the next few seasons promise to show the full range of her athletic gifts.

As the countdown to the Prefontaine Classic continues, the anticipation is more than just about a single performance. It’s about appreciating an athlete at the height of her powers who is also beginning to think about how she wants to leave the sport. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is not merely chasing times and medals anymore — she’s crafting a legacy that will outlast her competitive career.

When she steps onto the Hayward Field track this July, she will do so with the grace of a champion who has nothing left to prove, yet still burns with the hunger to perform. For fans in Eugene and around the world, it will be a chance to witness not only her speed but also a chapter in the unfolding story of an athlete planning her final bow with the precision and poise that have defined her career from the start.

 

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By admin