The track and field community is currently abuzz with a mix of excitement and confusion following the announcement on September 3rd that Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will be competing in both the 200m and 400m events at the Diamond League final later this month. This decision has stirred significant discussion, coming right after her stunning performance at the Paris Olympics, where she defended her 400m hurdles title by breaking her own world record with a time of 50.37 seconds. Additionally, she played a crucial role in the USA winning gold in the 4x400m relay with the fourth-fastest split time in the history of the Games.
While there’s considerable excitement about McLaughlin-Levrone’s upcoming participation, the track and field community is also grappling with the surprise of her unexpected entry. This situation is reminiscent of the shock caused by Athing Mu when she faced a similar scenario. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has confirmed her intention to compete in both the 200m and 400m races at the Diamond League final in Brussels on September 13th and 14th. She secured her spot through a wildcard entry and has indicated no plans to prioritize the 400m race, despite her career emphasis on hurdling events.
McLaughlin-Levrone attracted significant attention in July when she clocked 48.74 seconds in the 400m race, marking the second-fastest time ever recorded by an American and the 12th-fastest globally. However, her wildcard entry into the Diamond League final has sparked controversy. Owen, a notable figure in the track and field community, recently disclosed on X (formerly Twitter) that McLaughlin-Levrone’s participation might be in conflict with the official Diamond League rules. According to these rules, an athlete must have competed in at least one Diamond League meeting during the season to qualify for a global wildcard, something McLaughlin-Levrone has not done this season.
Owens suggested that either the rules have changed without notice, or there’s a selective bending of the rules for certain athletes. He emphasized the need for clear communication, warning that setting different standards for some athletes could set a troubling precedent. Owens even shared a screenshot of the Diamond League rule, which clearly states that meeting organizers can invite up to four global wildcard athletes (two men and two women) to compete in the Wanda Diamond League Final. To qualify, an athlete must have participated in at least one Diamond League meeting during the season and meet at least one of the following criteria: be a world record holder, reigning world, Olympic, or Diamond League champion, be in the top 5 of the World Athletics rankings for their event, or be in the top 20 of the overall World Athletics rankings. Additionally, no event featuring a national wildcard athlete can also include a global wildcard. If a global wildcard athlete wins, they will be crowned Diamond League champion and receive the Diamond Trophy, but will not receive the full prize money.
Recently, Carl Lewis, the legendary American track and field star with nine Olympic gold medals, commented on McLaughlin-Levrone’s participation in the Diamond League. He stated, “They did it for me numerous times. It’s been happening for years, and it has always been a great idea. Get the best athletes to race, any way you can.” While the debate continues, it’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time such a situation has arisen.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s participation brings to mind Athing Mu’s unexpected entry into the Prefontaine Classic, the 2023 Diamond League final, which also raised eyebrows last year. After finishing third in the 800m at the World Championships in Budapest on August 27th, Mu seemed ready to call it a season and even mentioned wanting a break from track and field. So, seeing her name on the women’s 800m list at the Prefontaine Classic on September 13th and 14th was a bit of a shock. It’s unclear if she changed her mind or if her sponsor Nike had a hand in this, as they often require athletes to participate in certain events. Despite not having competed in any Diamond League meets that season, Athing Mu was granted a wildcard entry, a special opportunity for U.S. athletes. This added excitement to the women’s 800m race, especially considering Mu’s impressive track record. In the end, Mu clinched the win by clocking 1:54.97, setting a new American record and meeting record.
With these standout performances in mind, the track and field world is keenly watching to see if Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone can match or even surpass these achievements at the upcoming Diamond League final. The question remains: can she go one step further, yet again?