Sydney McLaughlin, the star of athletics who is still relatively unknown: “People tell me, ‘You sound familiar, are you an athlete?'”

In the void left by the retirement of Usain Bolt, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has emerged as a potential superstar, offering everything that the world of athletics needs: she is a woman, an American, and unbeatable. McLaughlin, the reigning Olympic champion in the 400-meter hurdles, also holds the world record. To add to her allure, she has a riveting rivalry with another athletic prodigy, Femke Bol. Despite these accolades, McLaughlin remains relatively unknown outside the athletic community. Why is that?

Her specialty may play a role — hurdles are often seen as niche sports, particularly popular among dedicated fans. In a bid to elevate her visibility, she has transitioned to competing in the flat 400 meters at this year’s World Championships in Tokyo. However, there are deeper reasons at play. Leading up to her event at the Paris Olympics, amidst all the camera flashes and public attention, her poise remained unshakeable. When the announcer called her name, she neither waved nor smiled. “I didn’t greet anyone because I was focused on what I needed to do. My mind was solely on executing my plan and giving it my all,” she told EL MUNDO during an interview in Tokyo with a select group of international media representatives invited by World Athletics.

The Silent Star

Do you consider your public image outside the track?

No, I don’t pay attention to whether I’m in the media or not. I’m not on social media, and I don’t read anything about myself. I prefer to stay focused on my training.

But when you’re out in public, do you feel the fame?

Since the Paris Olympics, I’ve noticed it more. I think my popularity has increased, at least in the U.S. People recognize me more, but the conversation often starts the same way: “You look familiar; are you an athlete? I can’t recall your name.” And from there, it continues.

You’ve switched to the flat 400 meters in this World Championship, what’s the difference?

The pain, for sure. I run faster and experience much more lactic acid build-up. It also changes the technique. In the hurdles, you maintain a specific stride pattern, but the 400 meters is pure sprinting. You don’t know how far you can push yourself until you reach that limit. It’s much more unpredictable.

In the flat 400 meters, there’s a world record overshadowed by doping concerns: Marita Koch’s 47.60 seconds from East Germany in 1985. Many hope you will erase that mark.

I’ve learned to live with that expectation. In the 400 hurdles, people expect me to break the world record every time I compete. However, in the flat 400s, I need time and experience. My focus is on becoming the best athlete I can be. I think reaching those 47.60 seconds is possible, but it’ll be tough. First, someone needs to run under 48 seconds, and then we’ll see.

Future Endeavors

Are you training for a double event of flat 400 and 400 hurdles at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?

I can’t evaluate that yet. I take it season by season. They may seem similar, but the hurdles and the flat 400 are very different in many ways. I have plenty of time to make that decision.

Your father, Willie, competed in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics: he was a semifinalist in the flat 400 meters.

That would be incredible for my family. Experiencing another Olympics at home, in the Coliseum, and reliving the history of 1984… It would be beautiful, for sure.

Besides your passion for athletics, you inherited deep Christian faith from your father. How does that help you on the track?

It helps because my identity isn’t based on winning or losing a race. It gives me a lot of peace. I just try to make the most of the gift I have received from the Lord. The night before races, I pray a lot, talk to myself, and visualize. All of that helps me immensely.

For many years, you balanced soccer with athletics, like Spanish player Salma Paralluelo. Do you still play?

I would love to, but I can’t risk injury anymore. Whenever I see a ball, I want to kick it, but I hear my coach’s voice and have to walk away. I believe that if I hadn’t become an athlete, I would have been a professional soccer player. I played as a right winger, and I was good at it. I loved running down the wing with the ball and crossing it for someone else to score.