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Michael Johnson hailed Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's winning combination of Olympic gold medals and world records after she won the 2024 Female Athlete of The Year award. The four-time Olympic champion beat St. Lucia's Julien Alfred for the top World Athletics honor.
Alongside McLaughlin-Levrone and Julien Alfred, three-time Paris Olympics gold medalist Gabby Thomas, Beatrice Chebet, Marileidy Paulino, and Faith Kipyegon were nominated for the award before the former two were voted as the finalists.
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The awards ceremony took place in Monaco and McLaughlin-Levrone was present to receive the honor. Following her victory, former 400m sprinter and Grand Slam Track founder Michael Johnson hailed her 'absolute dominance' in the 400m hurdles in 2024. He also pointed out to her two gold medals-two world records combination, which played a crucial role in her win.
"World record, gold medals, and absolute dominance. Winning combination!"
McLaughlin-Levrone clocked 50.65s for the new 400m hurdles world record at the U.S. Olympic Trials before lowering it to 50.37s at the Paris Olympics for the gold medal win. She also secured the gold medal in the 4x400m hurdles, running the third-fastest split of 47.71s in history.
She opened her season earlier with a couple of 100m hurdles and 200m races in April before clocking the third-fastest 400m time in American history, 48.75s, at the New York City Grand Prix. She also ran the second fastest time of 48.74s in 2023 while Sanya Richards-Ross holds the fastest time of 48.70s.
Exploring Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's 'absolute dominance' in 2024
As Michael Johnson pointed out, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone went the whole of the 2024 season unchallenged in the 400m hurdles. The 25-year-old won each of her three 400m hurdles races by 1.90 seconds or more.
McLaughlin-Levrone competed in her first 400m hurdles race of the season at the Edwin Moses Legends Meet, clocking 52.70s for the win. The second-place finisher Michelle Smith crossed the finish line an astonishing 3.26 seconds later.
At the U.S. Olympic Trials, the 2022 World Champion won by 1.99 seconds after clocking a world record of 50.65s. She was 1.90s ahead of compatriot Anna Cockrell while winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics and nearly handed a 30m lead to Gabby Thomas during the 4x400m relay finals.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has now signed with Johnson's Grand Slam Track for the 2025 season and will likely be seen competing both over the 400m hurdles and 400m flat. If she does, the American 400m record could be under threat next year.
