Last Friday was a unique day in the sport of track and field, one that fans and those affiliated with the sport won’t forget for a while.
While news of various suspensions in the sport were being released and talked about, arguably the biggest piece of news came when it was announced that one of the biggest stars in the sport, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone would miss the World Championships in Budapest due to a nagging knee injury.
“After consulting with my doctors and coaches, I need to take care of a minor knee issue so that I can be fully healthy for next years’ Paris Olympics,” she announced on Instagram. “I look forward to seeing everyone back on the track soon!”
Her coach, Bobby Kersee told the L.A. Times that McLaughlin would miss the remainder of the track and field season to recover from her knee injury, and that McLaughlin-Levrone would not require surgery on her knee to fix the injury.
It was recently announced that McLaughlin-Levrone would be racing Femke Bol in a showdown between the two fastest 400m hurdlers of all-time at the Brussels Diamond League meet. McLaughlin-Levrone holds the world record in the event with her time of 50.68, which she set at the World Championships in Oregon last summer. Bol has the third fastest time in the event with her time of 51.45, which she set in London in July.
McLaughlin-Levrone was set to run the women’s 400m at the World Championships after winning the USATF Outdoor title in the event. Her time of 48.74 was the second fastest time in American History. She pulled out of the Monaco Diamond League meet in July due to the aforementioned knee injury.
Lynna Irby-Jackson will replace McLaughlin-Levrone in the women’s 400m at the World Championships, which starts on Saturday, August 19. Check out the latest edition of Track Talk for more thoughts on McLaughlin-Levrone’s injury.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone to miss the World Championships due to knee injury
