2023 USATF Outdoor Championships — Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone reveals reason behind low track and field coverage

"There is not enough money in our sport"- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone speaks on low track and field coverage

Modified May 30, 2024 22:35 GMT

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has claimed that a lack of money in track and field is the reason behind low coverage of the sport. The 400-m hurdles world record holder expressed hope that new ventures like Alexis Ohanian’s 776 Invitational could bring back some spotlight on sprinters and hurdlers.

McLaughlin-Levrone, who is the first woman to break 51 and 52-second barriers in the 400m hurdles, is the face of female track and field athletics. The two-time Olympic champion enjoys huge popularity in America and around the world. However, not everyone is a world record holder like her.

Track and field coverage and viewership have dropped in recent years, and several athletes have voiced their concern over the same. 100m world champion Noah Lyles, Gabby Thomas, and now Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone are some of the top American sprinters who have voiced the need for better coverage of the sport.

McLaughlin-Levrone recently spoke with USA Track and Field and claimed that good marketing was required to help grow the sport.

"I feel like we don’t do a good job marketing ourselves…We need people to actually be able to see our sport and not have to pay all the time to watch subscriptions online", she expressed. (21:00-21:40)

The Olympic champion expressed that digital docuseries could also play a pivotal role in helping the coverage of track and field. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone also claimed that lack of money in the sport was one of the reasons behind the low coverage.

"There's not enough money in the sport to really push it the way we want to. So, we need to bring people in who are gonna invest in us to market us better like Tennis, NBA, and NFL. And I think things are in the works that are going to make this happen", Sydney-McLaughlin Levrone added. (21:40-22:05)

McLaughlin-Levrone wins 200m in stacked field LA Grand Prix

After opening her 2024 Olympic season with a 400-m flat victory, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone decided to take part in the 200-m event at the LA Grand Prix on May 18. She clocked a personal best of 22.07s to beat a field that included Gabby Thomas and Abby Steiner.

Speaking after the event, McLaughlin-Levrone expressed happiness over her achievement:

“I feel good. I love the sprint races; love the shorter races. Obviously, [there are] things I can always work on, but I think for a PR and second 200m this year; can’t complain,” she told Olympics.com.

However, the Olympic champion confirmed that she wasn't planning to run the 200-m at the upcoming Paris Olympics. She also ruled out the possibility of going for a 400-m double.