Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is running a new event this weekend

sydney-mclaughlin-levrone-new-event-100m-flat-kentucky-track — May 4, 2025; Miramar, FL, USA; Sydney McLaughlin (USA) poses after winning the women's long hurdles 400m in 49.69 during the Grand Slam Track Miami at Ansin Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has accomplished everything possible in the 400m hurdles, winning two Olympic gold medals and breaking the world record six times. Now, the former Kentucky track star is setting her sights on a new challenge: the 100 meters.

McLaughlin-Levrone will run the 100m hurdles and the 100m flat this weekend at Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track series in Philadelphia, the first time she has ever competed in the latter event as a professional. The 100m hurdles, which McLaughlin-Levrone has competed in several times, take place today, and the 100m flat tomorrow. Her personal best in the 100m hurdles is 12.65 seconds, set at the USATF Golden Games in May 2021; the current world record is 12.12, set by Tobi Amusan in 2022. Sydney last ran the 100m hurdles in May 2024, finishing in 12.71 seconds.

“I’m starting to kind of like this sprinting thing,” McLaughlin-Levrone told The Athletic. “It’s a completely different energy system. It’s so ballistic; shooting out of the blocks, toe dragging. To create this force in a linear line down the track is so different than the grace that the 400m gives if you don’t have the best block start. That doesn’t exist in the 100m.”

Last summer, McLaughlin-Levrone was one of the most dominant athletes at the Paris Olympics, winning gold in the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay. Afterward, she was inducted into the UK Athletics Hall of Fame. Sydney spent one season at Kentucky, winning the 2018 NCAA title in the 400m hurdles after setting the still-standing collegiate record of 52.75 seconds. In January 2025, she was named the 2024 Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year, just the third woman to ever win the award.

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Although McLaughlin-Levrone excels in the 400 meters, she isn’t a complete stranger to sprints. In addition to the 100m hurdles, she’s competed in the 60m indoor sprint, finishing in 7.33 seconds in 2023. To prepare for her first professional 100m flat, she’s changed up her training.

“It’s definitely been a shift these past few weeks, but it’s been great to work on sprint mechanics, block start and hurdle technique, because those are all things — even though they aren’t as important in longer races — which can still be of benefit down the line.”

The 100m hurdles takes place today at 6:22 p.m. ET and the 100m flat on Saturday at 5:13 p.m. You can watch live on The CW or stream it on Peacock. Go Syd, Go!