Was Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's ineligibility at the Diamond League final fair? All about her participation in the invitational event in Brussels

By Janhavi Shinde

Modified Sep 19, 2024 09:26 GMT

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The question of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's ineligibility at the Diamond League Final in Brussels has sparked a debate in the athletics community. The 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist was invited to compete in Belgium after being denied a wild card entry.

The American sprinter's ineligibility for the Diamond League was fair, given the athletes compete in the meetings throughout the year to grab a spot in the final. While McLaughlin-Levrone's talent is undeniable, many other athletes equally deserve the opportunity.

The 25-year-old's exceptional performance throughout the 2024 season, including the Paris Olympics, earned her an invitation to the final. At the French capital, she bagged two gold medals in the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay events. McLaughlin-Levrone registered a world record to top the 400m hurdles by clocking 50.37 seconds.

The Diamond League rules stipulate athletes to compete in at least one of the meetings to qualify for the Diamond League final. Since Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone did not compete in any meetings this year, she was deemed ineligible to enter the final, even as a wild card entry.

If exceptions were made for McLaughlin-Levrone, it could have set a concerning benchmark for eligibility moving forward. Also, while the league values star athletes like her, participating in the earlier meetings is crucial for maintaining the league's integrity.

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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone dominated `her two invitational events at the Brussels Diamond League

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone after the Women's 400m Hurdles Final at the Olympic Games 2024 at Stade de France in Paris. (Photo by Getty Images)

Although Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was denied the wild card entry at the Brussels Diamond League, fans were invested in her performances in the invitational rounds held on September 13 and 14, 2024 at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme.

The four-time Olympic gold medalist dominated the 200m and 400m events in Belgium. McLaughlin-Levrone topped the women's 400m race on Day 1 with an impressive time of 49.11 seconds. She surpassed Stacey Ann Williams and Andrea Miklos, who registered 50.53 seconds and 51.16 seconds, respectively.

The following day, the American track star clocked a stunning time of 22.40 seconds in the 200m to defeat Gina Mariam Bass and Delphine Nkansa, who recorded 23.01 and 23.03 seconds, respectively.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone also led the American team to first place on the podium in the 4x400m relay. She ran the fastest second leg of the lineup with 47.71 seconds.