Gabby Thomas reacts as Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone savors waffles right after winning 200m at Brussels Diamond League

Gabby Thomas amusingly reacted to Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone receiving a warm welcome with waffles after her 200m and 400m invitational races at the Brussels Diamond League. The hurdler clinched double wins in Belgium, competing in her non-regular races.

McLaughlin-Levrone had a successful Paris Olympic campaign, adding the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay gold to her Olympic medal tally. Her 400m hurdles effort of 50.37s broke the world record for the sixth time, lowering her own time of 50.65s set at the US Olympic Trials.

The 25-year-old planned to run at the 2024 Brussels Diamond League but was not allowed for the finals, having failed to compete in adequate DL races over the season. However, Memorial Van Damme permitted her to run in special invitational 200m and 400m races.

The Olympian clocked 22.40s in 200m and 49.11s in 400m to take comfortable victories. As she walked out of the arena with a flower bouquet, she was treated to freshly baked desserts and waffles, as posted on Allianz Memorial Van Damme's Instagram account. In the adorable video, she enjoyed the waffles with 'dirty' hands, calling the invitational event 'the best meet ever'.

Gabby Thomas, the 200m gold medalist and McLaughlin-Levrone's 4x400m relay teammate at the 2024 Paris Olympics wished to have run the races to get a similar welcome with desserts.

"omg I should’ve ran"

Gabby Thomas commented on Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone; Instagram - @allianzmemorialvandamme

Thomas, McLaughlin-Levrone, Shamier Little, and Alexis Holmes. Their effort earned the 4x400m relay gold at 3:15.27, leaving the Netherlands and Great Britain in second and third, respectively.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone talked about not being permitted to run the DL finals in Brussels

Wanda Diamond League 2024 Final - Allianz Memorial Van Damme Brussels - Source: Getty

In a post-race setting, the four-time Olympic gold medalist shared she was "feeling good" after her Paris Games performances. Despite not having competed in the DL finals, she expressed gratitude to Memorial Van Damme for finding a way for her to run.

"I think after Paris we kind of assessed and mentally and physically we were feeling good. And so that's kind as an athlete where you decide , I want to do another race and I felt like I wanted to. So I was excited. I know there there was a little bit of a tussle about whether I could run the final or not," she said.

McLaughlin-Levrone added:

"I was under the impression I could and I understand they came back and said no. That's fine. It is what it is. Grateful they still found a way for me to run and be here and just enjoying some waffles."

She has ended her season with the invitation races in Brussels, gearing for the Grand Slam Track League that will run from April to September 2025.