Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the reigning world record holder in the 400m hurdles, became one of the first athletes to join Michael Johnson’s ambitious Grand Slam Track league last year. But after the league was cut short due to funding issues in its inaugural edition, leaving millions in prize money unpaid to athletes, she now finds herself uncertain about returning if the league moves forward with another edition.
In October this year, the league reportedly raised around $5.5 million from some of its original investors in an effort to begin repaying athletes. However, with total debts estimated between $11 and $13 million, the new funding covered less than half of what remains owed.
What Does Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Feel Grand Slam Track Needs to Do to Regain Athletes’ Trust?
McLaughlin-Levrone revealed that she would consider returning to the league only if it could sustain itself financially.
In an interview with NBC.com, she opened up on her cautious approach to potentially joining the league again, stating, “I think we’d have to see how it comes back and what the security of it looks like. I think there was a lot of athletes that loved the model, loved what they were able to put out from a product standpoint, but of course, you have to be able to sustain that.”
“And so, we would honestly just have to see what that sustainability looks like before venturing into anything moving forward,” the four-time Olympic gold medalist added.
Out of the four-meet series, with the Los Angeles meet being cancelled, McLaughlin-Levrone competed in all three events, appearing in Kingston, Miami, and Philadelphia. The league, which featured a unique format with different races categorized together as groups, saw her win in the 400m and 400m hurdles (long hurdles group) at the Kingston and Miami meets.
She also participated in the short hurdles group (100m and 110m hurdles events) in Philadelphia, finishing as the runner-up in the overall category. Across the three meets, she was set to earn a total of $250,000, $100,000 each for the first two meets and $50,000 for her runner-up finish in Philadelphia.
McLaughlin-Levrone Reveals Her Biggest Fear
The American sprinter and hurdler admitted that what scares her most is the thought of not giving her absolute best. In an interview with Vanity Fair in October 2025, she explained that her fear isn’t about external challenges, but about living up to her own high standards in both her career and life.
“I’m afraid I won’t give my best, and I always try to do it. I don’t want to look back, look at my career and my life, and have regrets for not giving everything. I want to get out of every situation knowing I’m proud of what I’ve given,” she added.
McLaughlin-Levrone scripted history this year at the World Athletics Championships. She clocked a sensational 47.78s in the 400m flat, the second-fastest time ever in the event to become the global champion in the discipline and end her 2025 track season on a high.