After a weekend filled with elite performances and tough moments on the track, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Sha’Carri Richardson gave fans something deeper
Fresh off a commanding win in the women’s 400m, where she clocked a season-best 49.43 seconds, McLaughlin-Levrone’s focus might be on sharpening her form ahead of Paris, but her heart, she revealed, belongs to those who paved the way.
“I definitely looked up to Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards-Ross growing up, for sure,” Sydney shared in a feature posted by On Her Turf on July 8.
“Both of them are just amazing athletes, so strong, so powerful, but also so poised. And I think how they carried themselves more than anything is what really inspired me to want to be the best at what I do, but also do it with class and grace.”
Felix, a 7-time Olympic gold medalist and a fierce advocate for maternal rights in sports, redefined what it means to balance motherhood, activism, and elite competition.
Richards-Ross, a 400m titan, fought through injuries and mental battles to capture Olympic double gold in London, becoming a symbol of resilience for an entire generation.
For McLaughlin-Levrone, whose own career has already reached historic heights, these women set standards.
Sha’Carri Richardson Channels Mamba Mentality
On the other end of the track, Sha’Carri Richardson endured a difficult night in Eugene. Nursing an injury, the reigning world 100m champion finished last in the final, clocking 11.19 seconds, a world away from her season best.
But Richardson, never one to shy away from honesty, used the moment to open up about the figure who shaped her fighting spirit.
“I’ll have to say Kobe Bryant, only because he was raw, he worked hard, but he let you know exactly how he felt,” Richardson said.
For Richardson, Bryant’s Mamba Mentality is a way of life. His unapologetic hunger, relentless work ethic, and fearless authenticity mirror the way Sha’Carri has navigated both triumph and criticism on her path to global stardom.
Tara Davis-Woodhall Honors the Legacy of Black Women in Sport
Also sharing her story was U.S. long jump champion Tara Davis-Woodhall. Asked about the women who shaped her career, she didn’t hesitate: Allyson Felix, Brittney Reese, and tennis icon Serena Williams.
“What they did for women like me, for Black women in sports, opened doors and created opportunities we once only dreamed of,” Davis-Woodhall reflected.
Their advocacy, both on and off the field, inspired her to embrace her platform and fight for representation in elite athletics.
Sydney heads to the Ed Murphey Classic next, chasing sharper times over 400m, while Sha’Carri eyes a recovery window that may see her skip straight to the World Championships.