American Sprint Legend Reveals Special Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Trait That Makes Her ‘Hard to Stop’

American sprint icon has opened up about what makes such a dominant force on the track, especially after her masterclass performance at the inaugural Grand Slam Track meet in Kingston, Jamaica.

McLaughlin-Levrone, already hailed as a generational talent, lived up to expectations with a stunning sweep in both the 400m hurdles and flat 400m events. 

On Sunday, April 6, she clocked 50.32 seconds in the 400m flat—despite battling a strong headwind—just two days after storming to a world-leading 52.76 in her specialty, the 400m hurdles.

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Her efforts The 24-year-old’s performance further cemented her status as one of the sport’s all-time greats, continuing a streak that has seen her break four world records in the same event—the most by any athlete in history.

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Gatlin, who was on the ground in Kingston and analyzed the meet on his podcast, didn’t mince words when assessing her dominance.

“Listen, it’d be very, very difficult to bet against Sydney—especially in her premier event or really any event she steps into,” Gatlin said.

“Sydney is the kind of athlete who doesn’t just jump into competition unprepared. She does her homework, trains specifically for it, and comes ready.»

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The 2004 Olympic champion was quick to credit McLaughlin-Levrone’s meticulous preparation and her elite coaching setup under—known for molding Olympic champions.

“And let’s not forget her coach—Bobby. Bobby doesn’t play around. He hates losing and expects nothing but excellence on the track.”

What impressed Gatlin most was not just the times McLaughlin-Levrone ran, but how effortlessly she did it.

“Watching her at the Grand Slam meet, it was almost impossible to bet against her in both the 400m hurdles and the open 400m. She just ran away with it,” he observed.

“What I really loved was seeing how much she still had left in the tank. Even with that strong headwind coming down the homestretch—something she herself pointed out—her 400m still looked like a jog.”

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According to Gatlin, McLaughlin-Levrone’s fluid stride and effortless execution indicate there’s even more in the tank—especially under more favorable conditions.

“She dropped what looked like an easy 50-second lap, just bam bam bam, gliding through the motions,” he said.

“That tells me if she can do that with a headwind, then give her a little help—some wind in the right direction—and we’re probably looking at a mid-49. She could seriously do damage across the board.”

McLaughlin-Levrone’s track record backs up Gatlin’s glowing assessment. At the 2024 Summer Olympics, having already shattered the 52-second barrier in June 2021 and the 51-second mark in July 2022. 

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She is also a multiple-time Olympic and world gold medallist, including as a key member of the U.S. women’s 4×400m relay teams.

If Gatlin’s prediction proves true, the rest of the women’s 400m world—flat or hurdles—might be in for a long and painful chase.