Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone: Why Losing to Dalilah Muhammad Sparked New Mindset

Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone once reflected on one of those defining moments in her career, losing the top spot to Dalilah Muhammad at the 2019 World Athletics Championships.

The American star, widely recognized as one of the greatest 400m hurdlers of all time, admitted that nerves and missed training sessions early in her professional career had a lasting impact on her performance. 

McLaughlin-Levrone turned professional in 2018 after signing with New Balance and moved to Los Angeles to begin her training journey. 

However, she revealed that she struggled with discipline in her first year as a pro, which disrupted her hurdling rhythm.

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That lack of preparation came to the surface in Doha at the 2019 World Championships, where McLaughlin-Levrone lined up against Dalilah Muhammad in the finals of the women’s 400m hurdles. Despite posting one of the fastest times in history, she was left devastated.

"My anxiety ratcheted up. At the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar, I stuttered on the eighth hurdle. I still finished with the third-fastest time in the history of my event. But Dalilah ran the fastest time ever, breaking her own world record," McLaughlin-Levrone told Guideposts.

In that dramatic race, McLaughlin-Levrone crossed the finish line in 52.23 seconds, a mark that still stood as the third-fastest time ever recorded at the time. 

Yet, the gold medal slipped from her grasp as Muhammad stormed to victory with a world-record performance. For the young American, the silver medal felt more like a sting than an achievement.

She vividly recalled the heartbreak after the race, seeking out her father in the tunnel under the stadium. 

"I found my dad in the tunnel under the stadium and sobbed, ashamed because I knew things could have been different if I’d prepared right," she admitted as quoted by SportsKeeda.

The tears were not just about losing, but about realizing her own potential had been left untapped due to inconsistent training and self-doubt.

The experience in Doha, however, became a turning point for McLaughlin-Levrone. Rather than allowing disappointment to define her, she channeled the pain into motivation, reshaping her approach to both training and competition. 

In a candid conversation on Ready Set Go with Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green, she shared how her mindset has evolved since that moment.

"Yeah, there's just this desire for whatever I'm doing to be the best. And I think whether it is the 400 hurdles, the 200 this weekend, or the 100 and the 100 hurdles, I just want to be the best that I can be when I step on the track," she explained.

The Olympic gold medalist emphasized that she views herself as a student of the sport, constantly striving to refine her craft. With each race, she approaches the track with a growth mentality, determined to improve regardless of the event.

McLaughlin-Levrone now hopes that her journey, marked by both triumph and setback, can serve as an inspiration for the next generation of athletes. 

At just 26 years old, McLaughlin-Levrone has already redefined what excellence looks like in the 400m hurdles. And it all traces back to a day in Doha when heartbreak pushed her to become stronger than ever.