"What Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone represents is the issue with the sport" - Michael Johnson explains why the American doesn't compete often

Michael Johnson opened up about Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone not competing often following her record-breaking season in 2021. The former sprinter turned entrepreneur claimed the problem lay in the sport, which hasn't been able to challenge the American over 400m hurdles in the last few seasons.

McLaughlin-Levrone has massively pushed the limits in the women's 400m hurdles in the last three years, lowering the world record in the event by nearly two seconds all alone. She hasn't lost a single race in the event since placing second at the 2019 World Championships but more importantly, she has rarely been challenged to the finish line.

With nearly no competition for her, the 25-year-old has very rarely competed over the 400m hurdles in recent years. She hasn't competed in any 400m hurdles Diamond League race since 2021 and has raced only once before the U.S. Championships in 2022 and 2024.

Weighing on her sparse racing schedule in an interview with BBC, Michael Johnson claimed the issue was with sport and not with McLaughlin-Levrone.

"What Sydney represents is the issue with the sport," he said.

Johnson also revealed that the world record holder wanted to race only when something was on the line.

"When I asked why she doesn't race much she said she likes to race but, when she does, she wants it to mean something," added Johnson.

McLaughlin-Levrone was the first racer signed by Johnson's Grand Slam Track and she is expected to race over 400m hurdles and 400m flat. The four-time Olympic champion will feature in all of the four meets of the league from April to June.

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Michael Johnson explains why he didn't include field events in Grand Slam Track

Sporting Kansas City v Los Angeles Football Club: Michael Johnson in attendance (Source: Getty)

While Grand Slam Track has surely brought a new era for track runners, it has left 'half of athletics' behind by snubbing field events, a move which angered many field athletes such as Tara Davis-Woodhall.

However, Johnson believes he could only save the track and not the whole of track and field.

"Grand Slam Track is track, that is what we're doing. I am going to save what I think I can save; I think I can save track, I don't think I can save track and field," he told BBC in an interview.

The four-time Olympic gold medalist further stated that including field events in GST wouldn't have been viable for the league.

"Putting the two together works at the Olympics and World Championships, but I'm not sure it works when you're trying to create a professional sport outside of those global competitions," Michael Johnson added.

The inaugural slam of the league is scheduled for April 3-5 in Kingston, Jamaica while the rest of the three slams will take place in the United States in May and June.