'You Can Do Hard Things'- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Embraces Sprint Challenge

Ackera Nugent (L) wins ahead of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (R) in the 100mH at the Grand Slam Track in Philadelphia on May 31, 2025.

'You Can Do Hard Things'- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Embraces Sprint Challenge

Festus Chuma 19:55 - 03.06.2025

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone steps outside her comfort zone at Grand Slam Track, taking on new sprint challenges with determination and growth.

Olympic 400m hurdles champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone surprised fans and pundits alike with her bold decision to step out of her comfort zone and compete in the 100m and 100m hurdles at the third edition of the Grand Slam Track in Philadelphia.

McLaughlin-Levrone, who is known for her dominance in 400m and 400m hurdles, took on a new challenge in the short sprints.

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The American track star, who has already won a total of $200,000 across previous Grand Slam Track events, has revealed that her decision to take on events outside her specialty was not about medals or money.

"I mean just being able to do hard things and being able to go against the best of the best. Understand what it takes for me to become a better hurdler, sprinter and get in that mental mindset space where other people are comfortable and I'm not. I think that was the biggest thing for me today like, you can do hard things and you don't have to be afraid of the challenge," McLaughlin-Levrone shared in an interview with Tiara Williams.

Despite finishing second in the 100m and fifth in the 100m hurdles, the Olympic gold medalist was upbeat about her performance and the experience it gave her.

She admitted that the transition was not easy, but every race provided key takeaways that would ultimately elevate her overall athleticism.

Pushing Boundaries: Growth Through Discomfort

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

For McLaughlin-Levrone, competing in short hurdles was not just a test of speed but also a strategic effort to enhance her core strengths.

She acknowledged that stepping into unfamiliar territory gave her new insights into the technical aspects of sprinting and hurdling.

According to the American star, the challenge was about more than just times on the clock — it was about learning and improvement.

"So, I'm really happy with it. It wasn't my cleanest race, wasn't my best race but I'm content with my effort put forth."

Her experience in the 100m hurdles, though not flawless, added another dimension to her training.

It pushed her physically and mentally, and the outcome left her proud of her effort, regardless of the result.

Learning From the 100m: “Not the Best Execution”

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. Photo. Imago

Reflecting on her second-place finish in the 100m, McLaughlin-Levrone acknowledged there’s still room for improvement. She admitted that her execution fell short of expectations and that the race didn’t go entirely according to plan.

"Not the best execution. I definitely popped right up, no drive phase whatsoever. I'm going to have to watch that one back. But I think that being the first 100 for there to be so much to work on. I'm proud of that and so to come out with the results that I did yeah, I'm happy," she said as per SportsKeeda.

She did not take home the title but her performance served as an invaluable experience.

Her eyes are now set on further refining her technique, McLaughlin-Levrone hinted at a possible future in the short sprints — a sign that this is not just a one-off experiment.

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