Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has risen to prominence as one of the most dominant figures in track and field, particularly in the 400m hurdles, where she is widely regarded as the greatest of all time. Her undefeated Olympic record and multiple gold medals underscore her unparalleled success. However, her path to working with legendary coach Bobby Kersee—credited with much of her recent achievements—was far from smooth, as McLaughlin-Levrone revealed in her book.
Initially coached by former Olympic gold medalist Joanna Hayes, McLaughlin-Levrone began their partnership in 2018. Hayes was a strong mentor, helping to shape her early career. However, by 2020, McLaughlin-Levrone decided to make a significant career move: switching coaches. She believed it was necessary for her growth but dreaded delivering the news to Hayes directly.
Instead of having the difficult conversation herself, McLaughlin-Levrone asked her manager to break the news. Hayes, who shared a close bond with the athlete, was deeply hurt by this impersonal approach. Reflecting on this decision, McLaughlin-Levrone expressed regret, acknowledging that she had mishandled the situation. She wrote, “As soon as we started talking, I wished I’d been the one to have that conversation with her. I knew immediately that having the news delivered in such an impersonal way hurt her.”
Adding to the complexity, Hayes had introduced McLaughlin-Levrone to Bobby Kersee, the very coach she was now choosing to work with. This made the situation even more emotionally charged. McLaughlin-Levrone admitted, “In order to avoid difficult conversations, I’d damaged relationships with people I cared about.”
The lack of direct communication also created tension within her family. McLaughlin-Levrone’s brother, Taylor, had been collaborating with Hayes professionally. Instead of informing him herself, she asked their father to deliver the news. This led to another strained interaction, with her brother confronting her by asking, “Why did I find out from Dad and not you?” While he understood her reasons for changing coaches, her approach made their relationship feel impersonal and strictly business-like.
Despite these challenges, the decision to switch to Bobby Kersee proved transformative for McLaughlin-Levrone’s career. Under Kersee’s guidance, she flourished. His coaching philosophy focused on fine-tuning her technique rather than overhauling it entirely. Kersee emphasized mental toughness and suggested a crucial change in her hurdling strategy: reducing her steps between hurdles from 15 to 14. This adjustment became a game-changer.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s achievements under Kersee speak for themselves. She secured two gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics and claimed victory at the USATF 400m hurdles. At the 2022 World Athletics Championships, she shattered the world record with a time of 50.68 seconds. Continuing her dominance, she set a new milestone of 50.65 seconds at the Paris Olympics, further improving to an astonishing 50.37 seconds, cementing her legacy in the sport.
While the journey to Kersee was fraught with difficult decisions and personal missteps, it ultimately paved the way for McLaughlin-Levrone’s record-breaking career. Her story serves as a testament to how breaking ties, though painful, can sometimes lead to unparalleled success.