McLaughlin-Levrone, who ran world-leading 48.74 seconds in 400 meters July 8 to capture U.S. title and elevate to No. 2 in American history, confirms she will not race in Budapest as a result of “minor knee issue”

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone decided following the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships not to defend her title in the World Athletics Championships in the women’s 400-meter hurdles, instead choosing to focus on the 400-meter race in Budapest, Hungary.

McLaughlin-Levrone, 24, shared Friday on her social media that she has chosen not to compete at all at the Aug. 19-27 event, withdrawing from the meet as a result of a “minor knee issue.”

“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,” McLaughlin-Levrone posted on her social media. “I look forward to seeing everyone back on the track soon!”

McLaughlin-Levrone is the world leader this year in the 400 after running 48.74 seconds in the July 8 final at the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

She elevated to the No. 2 all-time American competitor and No. 11 in global history.

Her withdrawal provides Lynna Irby-Jackson, the fourth-place finisher July 8 in the U.S. final in 50.11, to join Britton Wilson and Talitha Diggs among the individual 400 entries competing for the Americans on Aug. 20 in the opening round in Budapest.

Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic, last year’s global silver medalist, boasts the fastest performance in the world this year among the confirmed entries at 48.98.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo of the Bahamas, who captured the World gold medal last year in 49.11, is returning to competition following the birth of her son Maicel on April 20, attempting to become the first female athlete to win consecutive 400 championships since Australian athlete Cathy Freeman achieved the feat in 1997 and 1999.

McLaughlin-Levrone was pursuing the first U.S. gold medal in the women’s 400 at the World Athletics Championships since Allyson Felix and Phyllis Francis captured back-to-back titles in 2015 in Beijing and 2017 in London.

She also had the potential to become the first female athlete to win global gold medals in both the 400 meters and 400-meter hurdles, following her world record 50.68 in the latter at last year’s World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field.

McLaughlin-Levrone had also withdrawn from another a potential international competition in July following her victory in the 400-meter final at the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships.

She had also been announced as a scheduled competitor Sept. 8 in the 400-meter hurdles at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme Wanda Diamond League meeting in Brussels, with a potential showdown against Dutch standout Femke Bol, an opportunity that is likely not expected to materialize following Friday’s announcement.

McLaughlin-Levrone joins Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam, Kazakhstan’s Norah Jeruto, Germany’s Malaika Mihambo and Great Britain’s Jake Wightman among last year’s World Athletics Championships gold medalists who are not scheduled to compete in Budapest as a result of injuries or injury-related issues.

Nigerian athlete Tobi Amusan, the reigning World gold medalist in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, will have an opportunity to defend her title in Budapest if she is cleared of her three whereabouts failures, World Athletics officials have stated.

Amusan was provisionally suspended in July by the AIU for three whereabouts failures and the Nigerian standout has decided to contest the charges. The AIU said a decision on Amusan’s appeal will be made before the start of the World Athletics Championships.