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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is one of the biggest stars in American track and field. The two-time Olympic champion has signed deals with global brands like New Balance, but she feels Sha'Carri Richardson is the celebrity of the current track and field community.
While McLaughlin-Levrone is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, Richardson hasn't featured in any of the Olympic Games yet. However, she is the fourth-fastest American over 100m and sixth overall. While Richardson is a world champion as well, her huge popularity is more or less attributed to her charismatic personality.
Long nails and long braids have become familiar to her. Richardson’s fashion sense and overall personality resemble that of the fastest woman ever, Florence Griffith-Joyner. Richardson also signed a multi-million deal with Nike last year.
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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone recently spoke about Richardson’s popularity. Speaking on USA Track and Field's podcast, McLaughlin-Levrone claimed that she wasn't very popular among the people in L.A. Admitting that track and field didn't enjoy the coverage like NBA and NFL, the 400m hurdles world record holder added:
“You got NBA, you got NFL, you got celebrities. I mean, track and field, we are working our way up. But we haven't arrived. There are certain people in our sport, I feel like Sha'Carri (Richardson). She gets noticed everywhere.” (1:50-2:30)
Both Sha'Carri Richardson and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone have opened their outdoor seasons. The former stormed to a dominant win in the 100m at the Prefontaine Classic last week, and while the latter hasn't opened her account in 400m hurdles, she won a 200m with a personal best at the LA Grand Prix.
Which events will Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone compete in at the Paris Olympics 2024?
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics in the 400m hurdles. While she didn't win any medals that year, she came back for a double gold triumph at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. McLaughlin-Levrone won the 400m hurdles gold and was part of the USA 4x400m gold-winning relay team as well.
At the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024, the world record holder won't run the 200m despite opening the season with a personal best. McLaughlin-Levrone has ruled out the possibility of running a 400m flat as well.
"That's definitely a possibility in the future but just wanting to come back last year, stick to one event, and try to do the best I can, be healthy, which we are, and I'm very happy about," she told reporters at the LA Grand Prix.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will run the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay at the Paris Olympics 2024. The world record holder will face a huge threat in Femke Bol, the second-fastest 400m hurdler, but she will be the slight favorite nonetheless.
