"We wrapped them up" - Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone opens up on losing 2 toenails before dominating US Olympic Trials heats

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone discarded the 400m flat, 200m, and 100m hurdles to focus on her forte, the 400m hurdles. But her recent 400m hurdles victory in Heat 1 of the US Olympic Trials came at the cost of two toenails, which 'she wrapped up' during a training session.

McLaughlin-Levrone faced a roadblock in the form of a knee injury, which kept her out of the 2023 World Championships roster. She prioritized health and wished to get fit to be on the Paris Olympic run.

Coming in 2024, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone opened her 400m hurdles season at the Edwin Moses Legends Meet. She ran in 53.70s and earned a comfortable victory over her rivals. Her effort also saw her record the world-leading time in 2024.

However, in the build-up to the US Olympic Trials, she lost her toenails to rigorous practice sessions. In an X post by NBC, the unknown story of the hurdler came to the fore. In the accompanying video, an interviewer quoted Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone as saying:

"I lost two toenails last week." (0:08)

Further, when she was asked about what she did to those nails, she said:

"We wrapped them up and we're out here competing at the Trials." (0:16)

Her words asserted unmatchable grit and willpower to stand back up on her feet.

Though the 24-year-old struck her name from the 400m participation at the Trials, her recent time at the 2023 USATF Championships was just four-hundredths of a second shy of Sanya Richards-Ross' American record. Her time of 48.74 ranked her as the tenth-fastest of all time.

McLaughlin-Levrone holds the 400m hurdles world record and has lowered her own time a record four times. Each time, a new world record time has been set.

Femke Bol, the Dutch athlete, stands in No. 2 in 400m hurdles. She will likely face the world record holder in Paris.

"‘Excellent’ to me is just how can I get better every day" - Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

2024 USATF NYC Grand Prix

Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone is just an inch away from the Olympics after her recovery from the knee issue. She is focusing on one race at a time, prioritizing nutrition, recovery, and treatment. Getting better each day is synonymous to 'excellent', according to her.

"‘Excellent’ to me is just how can I get better every day. It’s nutrition. It’s recovery. It’s treatment. It’s doing the exercises even when I’m tired after a long day. That, to me, is that little margin that makes the difference," said the 24-year-old. (via Today)

McLaughlin-Levrone will look to defend her 400m hurdles title at the 2024 Paris Olympics.