"Is it a coincidence UK alum Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was in the house today?"- Michael Johnson on Kentucky's Dane Key hurdling through Ohio players

Retired American sprinter Michael Johnson recently questioned the presence of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the 400m hurdles world-record holder, during the football game between Kentucky Wildcats and Ohio Bobcats. McLaughlin-Levrone attended the football match taking place at Kroger Field on Saturday, which saw Kentucky defeating Ohio by 41-6.

McLaughlin-Levrone was recently honored by the University of Kentucky after being inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame. Notably, she competed for the Wildcats in track and field for one year in 2017 before turning professional in 2018.

Recently, Wildcats’ wide receiver Dane Key pulled off an impressive hurdle over a Bobcats player during the football game between Kentucky and Ohio.

With both Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic 100m hurdles champion, in attendance when Key executed this, Johnson took to his X to question whether their presence and Key’s hurdling over the Ohio player was just coincidental.

“Is it a coincidence UK alums and Olympic champion hurdlers Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone were both in the house today?” the four-time Olympic gold medalist questioned.

It’s worth noting that the University of Kentucky also honored Camacho-Quinn, a key member of the Wildcats from 2016 to 2018, by inducting her into the Athletics Hall of Fame, just like McLaughlin-Levrone.

Both McLaughlin-Levrone and Camacho-Quinn went on to achieve global success in their careers. McLaughlin-Levrone is now a four-time Olympic gold medalist, while Camacho-Quinn won the gold in Tokyo and clinched the bronze in Paris in the 100m hurdles. Both the athletes have also collected the Diamond League title once, with McLaughlin-Levrone winning in 2019 and Camacho-Quinn in 2024.

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Michael Johnson signs Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone as first racer of Grand Slam Track

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images)

Michael Johnson delighted track and field fans with the launch of his new track league, popularly known as the Grand Slam Track, in June 2024. A total of four Slams will be held every year as the league commences in April 2025.

Johnson also announced Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone as the first racer of the professional track league. After being signed as the first athlete of the league, she said (via Flotrack):

“Michael’s vision is clear, and he’s exactly the leader this sport needs to break new ground. I am thrilled to be a part of this league and look forward to everything we have coming in the future. I firmly believe that this is the step forward that track needs to take it to another level, and I can't wait to get to work with the team.”

Besides McLaughlin-Levrone, Fred Kerley, Kenny Bednarek, Melissa Jefferson, Josh Kerr, Cole Hocker, and Yared Nuguse are the other notable names who have been confirmed as racers for the league so far.