People Are Very Mad About This... || Sydney McLaughlin Situation

[@wss33]

Why is this a debate exactly? Everybody knows you need points to compete in the final. If she didn't want to race before, she won't race now. Why should she be above the rules?

[@Donoloui]

Because those who are the stars in sports get exceptions made for them all the time. Its entertainment for the fans at the end of the day

[@gordon2945]

They have done it before just ask carl lewis, michael johnson, etc,

[@gordon2945]

​@@travisjazzbo3490no its not true

[@panashenhavira]

😂The die hard Sydney fans cannot be reasoned with. They "love" her so much they're willing to throw anyone else under the bus by degrading other athletes and saying Sydney should be there not them What the heck They choose to rewrite the rule book simply because they want her to run.

[@Dqtube]

@@gordon2945 These gentlemen were already retired when Diamond League started. So what are you talking about?

[@rjh6037]

No matter what the competition format, a final is a reward for those who have qualified previously.

[@AlexP-dz7ew]

They should not bend the rules to reward an athlete who didn’t bother to support their league all season It’s not fair to the athletes who do compete regularly. Sucks for the fans, but these are the consequences of inactivity

[@gordon2945]

Oh cry me a river

[@knowntobehonest]

​@@gordon2945All settled then. End of the discussion.

[@sylvainguinepain5624]

More than just did support. She didn't actually meet the criterion to qualify for the final. It's not fair for the athletes who actually put in the. work and showed up to qualify.

[@kaidusplatinum987]

Because there have been many exceptions before- this video was a poor summary basically the rule is the CEO decides, and before this year it was almost universally granted- the issue is CEO wants to be new head of IOC and this has become a test, hence the shift. I still agree with the ruling but this comment misses almost the entire actual story

[@thallonhenry4210]

The league should “support” the athletes. 10k to the winner is so incredibly low compared to what the league is profiting from the athletes doing the work to perform.

[@Triekki]

Gotta keep the rules. Athletes compete to gain points to compete for bigger payouts. You can’t steal someone’s potential earnings when they fought for the right to be there.

[@garprob1]

What hinders the growth of Track and Field in the U.S. the that the big names in U. S. track and field don't compete that often. The European athletes compete more often, and the stadiums at the European meets are packed.

[@Astro2024]

European athletes compete in Europe? Shocking

[@Luke-mq6mn]

I bet you think Europe is a country.

[@hakuakua3020]

It all comes down to money. Some of these folks don't have the coin to fly over there and compete. Some of the contracts are not that big in track. It makes no sense to track to a meet that you might make a couple hundred bucks due to the cost of travel and what you make. If you are not on that show up contract then you are SOL.

[@bernardnlong]

They don't have to travel across the Atlantic to get to meets on their continent, they can catch a train.

[@hakuakua3020]

​@@bernardnlong Uh... travel, food lodgings are not free. Gotta have coin for that regardless and enough coins so one can train enough to compete in the first place. Most of the possible runners can't even workout cause they need to work to pay bills. That train trip is not going to happen. No matter how cheap it is. US Gov will give you some cheese as support but that's it. Over the water you get taken care of so you can workout. Sheeeeeeit, US is cheap as fizzzzzzuck.

[@kitchener71]

quoting from a comment by DrDew-m7y (on the Coach Rob KZbin channel): "The Brussels race organizers started this whole fiasco by offering Sydney 2 wildcard slots when they shouldn't have. They apparently don't know their own rules. And the Diamond League has given exceptions to other runners in the past, so why would Sydney or her coaches not think that everything is legit when she accepted their wildcard offers. Now, the Brussels race organizers know they screwed up, and are trying to make it up to Sydney by arranging separate 400m and 200m "promotional" races that aren't part of the DL tournament."

[@fastj1962]

Who cares what the race officials did or didn't know. I'm not blaming Sydney, love her, she just doesn't qualify. Its not like they told her after she flew there. She knows now, problem solved. She knows next time.

[@davidhutch307]

@@fastj1962 Who cares that race officials don't know their own rules lol? Thats an alarming mindset to have. If they already extended the invitation, and these exceptions have been made before and are not without precedent, then the honorable thing to do is to keep their word. They already let the toothpaste out of the bottle. Now they just look like jackasses for rescinding it

[@libertypastor1307]

Thanks for clarifying. Shame on the officials for trying to bend their own rules to profit off of Sydney's fame! Good for the CEO for not bending. Can hardly wait to see Sydney compete! I respect her choice to not run in Diamond League events.

[@fastj1962]

@@libertypastor1307 Race organizers are promotors. Most Promotors don't know all the rules. Maybe they did, but also maybe they didn't. I'm not sure if each event is promoted by the same people or not. As far as profiting off someones fame, if there's no potential for profit, theres no $ for the athletes, and no racing.

[@DrDew-m7y]

​@fastj1962 You might be right about the race officials not knowing everything, I guess I was thinking that they are affiliated with the DL, so they should know. Setting up those 2 additional races for Sydney to race in is a good attempt to remedy the situation, though her competition probably won't be as good. But it is what it is. I hope she still shows up to race those "promotional" races, looks like she will, and puts down 2 really fast times. I would love to see her time in the "B" races, especially the 400m be faster than the winners time in the official final races.

[@Eddybo22]

She clearly doesn't care about the Diamond League that much. If she never ran in the Diamond League at all this season then they shouldn't allow her to race. If she wanted to join the Championship round she would have run at least once or twice at ANY POINT during the year. Period.

[@chazayah5985]

She care about the $10000

[@Eddybo22]

@@chazayah5985 if she did she would have ran at least once to fully justify her being there.

[@jhadebredenkamp97]

Okay so then she shouldn't run, despite wanting to🥴🤡

[@Eddybo22]

@@jhadebredenkamp97 you're just being ignorant to the topic at hand. It's not about her running , it's about qualifying for the Diamond League Champions Trophy. If she didn't run at all in the Diamond League this season why should she qualify for Championship events she didn't even run in just because she is the Olympic Champ in the 400 m Hurdles which is not even the event she is entering in? Please, make it make sense!

[@22424]

​@@chazayah5985 I am sure you know her heart....

[@Radm0bile]

Isn't Sydney publicly supporting Michael Johnson's new/proposed league where athletes do doubles? Seems like this double attempt might be in preparation for races like that in the future.

[@Radm0bile]

@@ks-go9im Yeah gotta sell more shoes and sports drinks, amirite?

[@aristotlethedecent6675]

@@Radm0bile I mean, track and field athletes barely make a more than a middle class salary by winning events, so the money has to come from somewhere. I read somewhere that the winner of the Diamond League final only gets like 12K, which is basically nothing compared to the costs of training.

[@mikeman2137]

She isn't supporting it she already signed on as an athlete to participate. A salaried signature athlete of grand slam track.

[@mikeman2137]

This was a marketing ploy by the Memorial Van Damme to get more butt's in seats with nothing to do with the Diamond league. It's their venue that invited Sydney so they arranged these special events and Diamond league is probably upset by Sydney not caring about them so they issued their statements.

[@pewithcoachlong7100]

I dont see how those are connected.

[@jesperandersen46]

If she competed in the other diamond league meets she’d ’bring eyeballs’ to the events - rules is rules - didn’t qualify can’t compete

[@Gr8Incarnate]

I don't even know about the "bringing eyeballs" part. Track fans already watch track, but how much non track fans can she make into fans?

[@lynncronje59]

@@Gr8Incarnate then she needs to compete, not just exceptions handed out. rules are there for a reason

[@synchronium24]

Even competing in one Diamond League meet would have made her eligible for the wild card.

[@KenanJHS]

Facts

[@bobbyjayyda1]

Here’s the thing, for the top tier athletes it gets to a point where it’s not worth it. For a regular diamond league meet you get $10,000 for first place. For first place in the diamond league finals it’s $40,000. Rules are rules so she shouldn’t get treated special but look at this just like the world championships as winner you get a by into the next world championships it should be something similar for the diamond league. If you are the world or Olympic champ that year you should have a birth into the diamond league finals. I know that worlds, Olympics and the diamond leagues is all different but it would make sense to draw the bigger names to come compete at the event because clearly the money is not doing it. $10,000 is not a lot after taxes and fees. They want Sydney, Noah,Shacrri and all the other top tier athletes to show up but not pay them as such.

[@user-ws6nu4mq8k]

Really pissed me off seeing so many people thinking that she should get a free pass. I don’t care who you are and how many world records you’ve broken but if you don’t appear on the track and gather points, you don’t deserve to get the bag at at the finals. That belongs to the athletes that earn the spots by actually doing some work. Multiple athletes from the americas managed that. In this instance the meet screwed up but there has still been loads of people saying that she should’ve gotten in regardless.

[@themanmcfarland6455]

Duplantis was hinting at wanting to compete against Sydney in the 400m so…

[@Eddybo22]

Difference is Duplantis actually competes in the Diamond League.

[@knowntobehonest]

So what... . Duplantis can run against Sidney as much as he wants but what has this to do with the Diamond League?

[@tondetanditonny802]

@@knowntobehonestit doesn’t even have any significance to the diamond league

[@byoffer]

@@knowntobehonest Do you see the three dots after @themanmcfarland6455's post? That means his post is in gest. (and a topically good one, I might add)

[@KenpachiAjax]

he would win. Sydney is the greatest ever female athlete in 400m hurdles. Breaking the world record 6 times and leaving the competition behind by miles. But Duplantis is a man who is also very fast as we saw in the recent days. This race should not even come up for discussion. It does not make sense

[@PEN-N-PAL]

*As an American Sydney does not deserve to compete in the Diamond League Final, her coach needs to stop with the few races every year, all his athletes seem to be taking a pass on regular competition while other sprinters are working hard competing for their spots. Bob Kersey has already ruin Athing Mo, he doesn't know his athletes like he should.*

[@proverbalizer]

I would type a long reply but. 50.37 nuff said

[@rundmm]

@@proverbalizer You are right, he seems to know her pretty well. Well enough to coach her to that 50.37 and probably lower next yr.

[@Elliottklassen]

I’m a 400mH fan and definitely a Sydney fan. Sydney ran at the US trials this year. Why? Because everybody knows that to make it to the championships you have to qualify. Why should the diamond league suddenly be any different? If you want to compete in the championship, you have to show up for the qualifier.

[@synchronium24]

I don't blame her for not knowing the qualification rules of Diamond League. The organizers messed up by not knowing their own rules, but I'm glad they are enforcing the rules.

[@thomaswakefield6889]

Sydney already had free tickets to the finals because she was last year's champion. you might want to look up the regs. Sydney only competed in 4 actual events before the Championships this year. By the way Sydney only competed in the US trials to get the points to actually qualify for the Olympics

[@ferrari250tr]

Because she was invited to compete by the DL themselves.

[@_MicZ_]

@@ferrari250tr A car dealership can offer me a brand new Ferrari for 100 dollars ... does that mean I shouldn't have common sense and not think something is wrong ? Brussels (the venue, not the DL organisation!) invited her for 2 season FINALS of a league she didn't compete in once ... I think Sydney and her team understand the concept of a final ...

[@DrDew-m7y]

I was hoping to see Sydney run a DL event or 2 after the Olympics, and she should have. But the bottom line is the Brussels race organizers started this whole fiasco by offering Sydney 2 wildcard slots when they shouldn't have. They apparently don't know their own rules. And the Diamond League has given exceptions to other runners in the past, so why would Sydney or her coaches not think that everything is legit when she accepted their wildcard offers. Now, the Brussels race organizers know they screwed up, and are trying to make it up to Sydney by arranging separate 400m and 200m "promotional" races that aren't part of the DL tournament. This is all fine and good, but Sydney will probably have to run against "lesser" competition.

[@Potato_Quality7]

If she wants tough competition, then go through trials like everyone else.

[@headshot9611]

All business goofy, wake up that’s life.

[@sportymcsports]

This isn’t a new rule, right? Sydney and her coaches obviously knew about this rule, right? I would love to see her run at Brussels and I love her! But if she wants to run in the Diamond League finals, why on earth didn’t she just run one Diamond League race then? I don’t think that the rule of requiring an athlete to compete in just ONE event during the season is unreasonable. So either a coach dropped the ball on the rules in a huge way or someone on Sydney’s team decided the rules don’t apply to her. I’m almost always on the side of the athlete, but in this case, come on, just hit ONE race during the season and this isn’t an issue.

[@hakuakua3020]

I don't see here ever running a DL meeting after this... The track world broke her emotionally when she first came on the scene so I just can't see her embracing DL. She has been all business and no play when it comes to track. If it's not a champ meet then not gonna happen.

[@fastj1962]

@@hakuakua3020 except she wasn't all business here. There's no drama but a promoter trying to get the best of the best to run and attract more people without knowing the rules. MAybe they knew them but were trying to pull a fast one. In sports things like this happen a lot more often than you would think, but all it takes is someone who knows the rule to point it out. When that happens, there's no crying someone past the rule. This is a basic rule anyway. So many competition series have rules like this. In your local hockey league, or soccer league, you can't bring a ringer to play in the championship games unless they played in "X" amount of regular season games. Best thing to do is follow facts not feelings. Grow up.

[@kaidusplatinum987]

Because there have been many exceptions before- this video was a poor summary basically the rule is the CEO decides, and before this year it was almost universally granted- the issue is CEO wants to be new head of IOC and this has become a test, hence the shift. I still agree with the ruling but this comment misses almost the entire actual story

[@hakuakua3020]

@@fastj1962 WHAT TIME IS SHE RACING? That's all i want to know. I don't want to know her drama... your drama... the CEO's drama. None of that. I just want to see a race. I don't give a squat about the rules... who promotes or any of that. If she is not running. I'm out. There is nothing more to my words than that. I will troll where I see a victim but I honestly only want to know when the race is...

[@fastj1962]

@@hakuakua3020 Then you aren't part of the conversation. Rules in sports matter. I don't watch the DL. Who cares if your need to see a race supersedes the presence of rules in your mind? All sports have rules and its a lie that the standard is there are exceptions. Absolutely not. We don't know, but more than likely someone complained, or it got back to the CEOs team and to avoid drama, they nipped it in the bud.

[@S.D.C.Parris]

It must be clear that she did not invite herself. They invited her. as a wild card. Were they not aware of their own rules. Do not blame her, blame them. These leagues want more exposure and some members are willing to overlook the rules to make that happen. knowing Sydney, once she knows the rules, she will abide by them. Listen carefully and ascribe blame to the right person(s).

[@forwardpass2725]

This would be like allowing a top athlete to race in the Olympic finals without going through the heats, the QF and SF. Much as I would love to see her race she didn't qualify

[@kc5466]

Good thing the Olympic finals doesn’t have a wild card option. Because if it did something like that would happen. Perhaps the diamond league should remove the wild card option.

[@Freerider93]

Not really. Sydney is better than all those other chicks and you're just jealous.

[@Astro2024]

So why do the world champs give a bye to defending champions unless you're in the US?

[@shonda79able]

​@Astro2024 the world championships give a bye to all of the world champions.

[@michaelschultz1104]

@@Astro2024they get a bye for the next WC only and US athletes do as well.

[@steveoulman634]

Sydney is an extraordinary athlete. Full stop. However, to perform in the finals she must make it through the prelims. Basic fact. Surely, she and her management team know this.

[@barath4545]

Yes and lets be honest - Mondo is bigger than her - And he showed the fuck up, for at least SOME events in DL. So did Lyles, and so on - Even Sha'carri showed up and did what she had to.

[@melmartinez7002]

Apparently they were simply accepting the offer of 2 wildcard slots by the Brussels race organizers, who issued them by mistake. That mistake is on the race organizers, not on Sidney or her coaches.

[@kaidusplatinum987]

Because there have been many exceptions before- this video was a poor summary basically the rule is the CEO decides, and before this year it was almost universally granted- the issue is CEO wants to be new head of IOC and this has become a test, hence the shift. I still agree with the ruling but this comment misses almost the entire actual story- surely you must know this?

[@jhadebredenkamp97]

She's OKAY

[@troliskimosko]

@@jhadebredenkamp97She’s an all time great

[@lettersfromtheleft]

Aw man, that’s a bummer. Was looking forward to seeing her go for the double!

[@chambaa1000]

Sydney McLaughlin has signed venture started by Michael Johnson. There will be four meets.

[@colbournmck5260]

Sydney would be coming in with Fresh Diamond League Legs to compete against other athletes who already has 2-4 Diamond League races in their legs. She has the same option as other athletes but choose not to compete & now feeling her fitness & wants to leapfrog all the way to to the Diamond League Finals, taking à spot earned by someone else. How's that fair ?

[@mhartan]

McLaughlin-Lavrone is in a class of her own. But rules are rules. Her light schedule apparently benefits her. Maybe Bol would have had a bit more juice in Paris and won the Silver if she hadn't raced so much all year.

[@susannandih4920]

Do you guys even do RESEARCH?!?! The diamond league INVITED Sydney as a wildcard and then RETRACTED their own invite. Sydney was never begging them to be a part of it. THEY WANTED HER!! People love tearing others down without even knowing the full story

[@pietpatat8421]

Maybe you should do your research. Brussels invited her not the diamond league, those are two different organisations. Get your facts straight.

[@susannandih4920]

@pietpatat8421 Despite who invited her, how is it Syndeys fault that the diamond league and it's organizers are so unorganized? If your a host for the diamond league you are responsible for upholding the requirements for the diamond league. How would this be Sydneys fault? She is innocent and just existing but people want to she was trying to "break the rules" when she CLEARLY was invited and the event organizers CLEARLY don't know what they are doing!

[@maxscriptguru]

Only racing twice in the season is a recipe for alienating potential audience. Miss Mu is also playing that game too. I am not inspired by both them. They have alienated me for sure. Keely and Femke have my admiration.

[@n8george]

Agreed. But I mostly blame coach Bob

[@thomaswakefield6889]

@@n8george I blame both the Coach and the athlete as well as their sponsors

[@ferrari250tr]

They race because they do nothing else and want money from that, she doesn't need to and has other things to take care of.

[@maxscriptguru]

@@thomaswakefield6889 yes I agree with you.

[@gregmyrland2515]

Sydney couldn’t run just one token race to meet this requirement ? Coach should have made her aware despite her star power. Aren’t there still the world championships where she could try the double?

[@pa9365]

You'd think the Olympic champion and record holder would have sufficient proof that she's in good enough form to warrant being in any competition without needing to qualify first.

[@nathanenns]

What are people NOT mad about?!? I’m mad about all the stock video that keeps replaying in every video on this channel. 😂

[@bvreid18]

She shouldn’t get any special treatment. The rules are laid out and if she wanted to be in the diamond league finals she should’ve raced in the meets. That’s on her and her coach it’s that simple. Track and field is still super exciting even if she doesn’t race.

[@kaidusplatinum987]

Because there have been many exceptions before- this video was a poor summary basically the rule is the CEO decides, and before this year it was almost universally granted- the issue is CEO wants to be new head of IOC and this has become a test, hence the shift. I still agree with the ruling but this comment misses almost the entire actual story. This type of situation has come up about 150 times before and this “rule” was manufactured last year so they could have an extra tool to do what they want- but didn’t even apply it to all the examples last year. There is no clear rule or precedent- this led to people complaining that it wasn’t a real sporting body with formal processes so as a political move the ceo is shifting this year- but won’t just come out and say that. Tbh because he decided to switch up wayyy after the fact

[@thomaswakefield6889]

@@kaidusplatinum987 LMFAO dude get off the internet with your bullshit lies. This rule has been around for over a decade

[@vreeze33]

Imagine not participating in a single race and then getting a free ticket to the finals. That would never fly in any other sport. Why should it here?

[@Freerider93]

Because she is better than those other chicks?

[@vreeze33]

@@Freerider93 So? She didn't put in the work required.

[@Freerider93]

@@vreeze33 This is why track is dying. You never say no to a GOAT!

[@vreeze33]

@Freerider93 Maybe if this goat actually raced more people would watch throughout the year. You can't reward this type of disrespectful behaviour.

[@Freerider93]

@@vreeze33 GOATs do what they want! Special people get Special privileges....

[@DrDew-m7y]

Bending the rules for 1 person isn't a good look for the DL, but neither is offering someone 2 wildcard slots, and then having to take them away a day later. Someone screwed up big time here. So now they are trying to make it up to Sydney by arranging these separate 400m and 200m races for her to run in.

[@kaidusplatinum987]

there have been many exceptions before- this video was a poor summary basically the rule is the CEO decides, and before this year it was almost universally granted- the issue is CEO wants to be new head of IOC and this has become a test, hence the shift. I still agree with the ruling but it’s not been covered well. This type of situation has come up about 150 times before and this “rule” was manufactured last year so they could have an extra tool to do what they want- but didn’t even apply it to all the examples last year. There is no clear rule or precedent- this led to people complaining that it wasn’t a real sporting body with formal processes so as a political move the ceo is shifting this year- but won’t just come out and say that. Tbh because he decided to switch up wayyy after the fact

[@oshanewilliams8865]

I’m happy the diamond league is enforcing it’s rules. If she wants to run then she can catch it next season.

[@oldindependent3040]

I used to be a huge fan (of Sydney), but not so much anymore

[@oldindependent3040]

And I might be one of the relatively few who have twice seen her race

[@JJohnson313]

Rules are rules.

[@jollymolly2521]

I was just saying - Mu ran at Pre last year in the DL final and hadn't raced a DL event all year. So what was the rule last year?

[@kc5466]

@@jollymolly2521same with Ingebritsen. But for Mu because the diamond league final was in the US she had a hosting nation exemption. For Ingebritsen, he’s a Nike athlete and Nike sponsors Prefontaine which was doubled as the diamond league final last year. So I’m assuming Nike made some phone calls to make sure their athlete can compete at their sponsored event. Sydney is sponsored by New Balance. New balance doesn’t have the type of pull Nike does.

[@jasonfritz838]

That is how we got COVID lockdowns.

[@JJohnson313]

@@jasonfritz838 No, that is not how we got the Covid lockdown at all. That’s a stretch Armstrong reach. But apparently you aren’t over the Covid thing so go off.

[@FourSeasons04]

Apparently, Brussels' organizers didn't know their own "rules." Why grant the WC in the first place? Hmm🤔

[@payrysdoscs4903]

I feel like one of the wildcard qualifiers should be "have one of the top times in the world for the year". Reminder that she jumped into a random 400 mid-season and ran .01 off her PB. She had the WL in both the 2 and 4 for a significant portion of the season (both broken in NCAAs).

[@efisgpr]

She didn't get the WL in the 2, but only because she ran that 22.07 into the wind.

[@MrAnderson610]

As long as her time is better than those running in the Diamond League is all that matters to me! 😊

[@DaEnforcer24]

Kersee did a great job with Allyson Felix and she competed like crazy all over the world. She was also in great shape during the major championships. Not sure why Syd’s career is managed differently.

[@TheHuskyK9]

Honestly, it's a fair rule. Gotta race to get your spot. You don't get reserved a spot in a final for a league you haven't raced in all season

[@Imincapableofbeingwrong]

Good. If you don't support a competition, the competition is not obliged to support you. The end.

[@leegee4275]

I LOVE McLaughlin, but I am GLAD she won’t be allowed. Maybe this will finally teach Bob Kersee a lesson. I’m tired of his hubris.

[@kc5466]

@@leegee4275 no lesson will be learned because the race she will be running will be more interesting than the 400m diamond league final. Because we already know the results of that because we saw it a couple weeks ago with the very same people.

[@789uio6y]

No, ki:: anyone that create diamond league!

[@FourSeasons04]

People say the dumbest things...Kersee has been coaching for well over 40 years. He and Sydney will be okay.

[@Jgrantism]

Thank you for your report concerning Sydney racing and the Diamond League response I am a super fan of the Diamond League and a Super fan of Sydney McLaughlin and find it incredibly difficult understanding her being prevented from racing it would be a black eye for her being unable to complete. Happy to learn she will be competing in a special race because she is special indeed. Keep up the good reporting

[@kingswifty5107]

Does anyone feel like the Diamond League CEO might be standing firm due to Sydney being a part of the Michael Johnson League/Circuit next year?

[@MarkLL1961]

Nope, she needs to play by everyone's rules. If she doesn't race, I'm not mad one bit.

[@flight_knight_]

All they have to do is add Olympic Champion/Medalist exemption

[@donalmaguire6099]

That would be a reasonable exemption if it was for the event that they were Olympic champion in.

[@kc5466]

⁠@@donalmaguire6099well that Olympic champion is faster than most of the athletes that will be competing in the event final that she isn’t a champion in. That says a lot about the weakness of the diamond league. That someone that doesn’t even compete in those events is faster than those that qualified for the diamond league final. She didn’t sign up for the hurdles final cuz we already know how that would end.

[@donalmaguire6099]

That's true for the 400 and quite possibly true for the 200. I think it's says more about how good Sydney is than the weakness of the Diamond League. At the end of the day, if she wants to run diamond league finals, she should run at more diamond league meets ,and if she only wants to run a few races a year, that's cool too, her decision.

[@alexarihani2902]

They do as well as world record holder exemption but it’s for the event they medaled and or set the record for so she could have a wild card entry for the 400m hurdles but not the 200/open 400m

[@barath4545]

@@kc5466 No it does NOT say that DL is weak. What you state is ONLY true for Sydney, she is the only athlete not doing DL event - I cannot think of a SINGLE (uninjured) athlete that is not there. Noah, Bashim stopped their seasons and Rojas is injured´- everyone else is doing the events.

[@michaelpowell4202]

Three points, first if Sydney isn't allowed to compete against the other top athletes, it seems it will take away from the Diamond League results because one could argue that whoever wins might not have won if Sydney was running. Second, why not let her compete in the Diamond League races but she just wouldn't be crowned champion, if she wins her races, or be awarded money that athletes who have competed in other Diamond League events will be awarded. That way she could compete against her top competitors but still pays a price for not competing in other Diamond League events. Third, because Sydney apparently is not planning on racing in the 400 meter hurdles, why is it a big deal? It is almost like early season conditioning races.

[@Nai911]

nah bro imagine being an athlete that attends every diamond league race and then some famous and good athlete that never race want to come and put at risk your chances of winning, not fair at all

[@desilorajr2713]

I’m mean is it even fair knowing that she would beat everyone anyways lol

[@efisgpr]

Nah bro imagine her showing up and taking a check from someone WEEKLY instead. That what you want? 😂

[@305Solo]

She’s clearly a magnificent athlete, but it’s not as if prime Barca were given a bye to champions league finals for those years were they? Same rules are valid here

[@softness.in.healing]

If people really wanted to elevate the level of this sport, it would make more sense to participate consistently vs. expecting others to bed the rules. Other athletes are participating and putting in the works too. So even tho I reaaaaally want to see her race, I agree with the original statement.

[@efisgpr]

SHE WAS ***INVITED*** STAY MAD. She'll get the fastest time in Brussels anyway. Syd >>>>> anyone from Europe

[@softness.in.healing]

@@efisgpr you seem a little angry. Maybe you should go for a run.

[@donaldandireneyoung3089]

Isn't there a clause if the athlete has broken a world record that the athlete can compete? Is this only in the event the WR was broken in, or can it apply in the two events she wanted to compete in? Not familiar with the rulings, if the Diamond League has these rules in place, then Sydney or any other T&F athlete must abide the rules that are there...blessings.

[@jollymolly2521]

I could be missing something but - last year Athing Mu won the Diamond League final at Pre and didn't run a Diamond League meet all year either. They wouldn't give her the Diamond League champions trophy because she had no other points in the Diamond League races. And suddenly this year it's a problem for Sydney to run in those races? What was the rule last year if Mu was allowed to run at Pre? And BTW, if they were smart they'd get Athing Mu to run that "special" 400m, too. Kersee already stated at the Edwin Moses meet why his athletes don't run in Europe more, so they should try to get both at the same time because the likelihood of seeing either of them at next year's DL is pretty slim.

[@garprob1]

I think the Pre was added to the Diamond League circuit last year. Was it not?

[@Iamjustkiddings]

There was an empty spot, unlike this year.

[@jollymolly2521]

@@garprob1 Pre was always on the DL 2023 schedule as the final meet. In 2022 Pre was in May, then they had Worlds at Eugene, too, so they moved Pre from May in 2023 to Sept 2023 as the final. This year it was in May again. For some reason this year they decided to make the finals a 2 day event as if the athletes aren't all ready for a vacay.

[@alomajaolayemi3920]

@@jollymolly2521 Mu could run at pre because she was the current Olympic champion of the 800m. Sydney cannot perform the 200m/400m double since she is not Olympic champion or world record holder in those events and she does not have enough points to qualify.

[@alexarihani2902]

Host country gets an entry at their discretion Also the gold medal winner or world record holder of the event can have a wild card if n that event so she would be eligible for wild card entry as the 400mH but not the 200/400 that she wants

[@buffalosoldier7360]

The other runners are glad Sydney hasn’t competed in prior diamond league races, more money for them, they got off easy…but why wouldn’t they want more star power, she can’t win the overall but let her run.

[@jamesdennis8290]

The Diamond League should drop that rule in any Olympic year. Post-Olympic re-match-ups are intrinsically interesting.

[@TheTrailRabbit]

What rematch? She didn't race the 200 or 400 at the Olympics.

[@lesegomakwati1992]

​@@TheTrailRabbitSydney fans are a bunch of clowns!they lack objectivity..they want her to run at the expense of other athletes who were on the circuit because she breaks records..

[@jamesdennis8290]

@@TheTrailRabbit That is so, but I was making general statements, not referring specifically to Sydney McGlaughlin. The dropping of the Diamond League rule post-Olympics would apply to any Olympic athlete for that year, regardless of event; and the reason can be stated as, "Post-Olympics, any race involving an Olympic athlete, regardless of event, will be intrinsically interesting." This would cover cases where, let's say, Femke Bol also decides to run the 400 in the Diamond League meet; and also where Sydney McGlaughlin runs the 400m hurdles in the Diamond League meet, and no other Olympic finalists compete in that race. The underlying consideration is that for Olympic athletes in an Olympic year, their training schedule gives priority to getting them to peak fitness at the Olympics; competing in an earlier Diamond League event might not fit their program. That consideration should not disturb the Diamond League's business model.

[@FetiFeti-fo5om]

other athletes earned their spot in the final. id love to see her running but it shouldn't be allowed

[@clarkbryant8222]

Noah was right when he said Track And Field ain’t ready or have the infrastructure for all the new fans, Because Sydney is hot like fish grease and any other league would’ve found a way to make sure their stars get exposer.

[@myrech]

what is blud yapping about

[@Eddybo22]

​@@myrech😂😂😂😂

[@pete5691]

How is sydney a diamond league star? How many diamond league races has she run?

[@Iamjustkiddings]

@@pete5691 Co-ask !

[@kc5466]

@@pete5691she ain’t a diamond league star. She’s a track and field star.

[@letranger5]

Give diamonds (i.e., cash) as rewards in Diamond League, not "the right to compete." I am for free choice to compete - change the rules!

[@lamster70]

It would be funny to see the 400m "B" race have faster time than the DL final race. I don't think that will happen, but you never know with Syd.

[@tondetanditonny802]

Is Paulinho and Naser a joke to you. I love Syd but that aint happening that would even fuel those two to even go harder

[@DrDew-m7y]

We will see, there is definitely a chance that Sydney could run a faster time in the "B" race than the winner in the final race. If you've seen any of Sydney's races, it is usually her against the clock, she doesn't need anyone to push her to race fast.

[@yozkopf3000]

@@tondetanditonny802 If Sydney would turn up in the shape she had in the 4x400 m Olympic final where she ran a 47.71s split ON THE SECOND LEG, she would definitely pose a huge challenge to those two since this is pretty much equals Marita Koch's best split time run in the anchor leg. And Marita Koch > Paulino > Naser.

[@jhadebredenkamp97]

What's funny about it tho🥴🤡

[@davillehope8306]

​@@yozkopf3000She got a running start.

[@donesanewishki474]

She followed the rules like everybody else to get into other races like the Olympics if she wants to be in the diamond league finals, she has to follow their rules like everyone else if she gets away with it and so can everybody else and then the only time worth watching diamond league would be the finals

[@richardschroeder1247]

Yes we all would BUT she is abusing the system. Let all the runners do all the heavy lifting. Then step in and win the money. I’m sure there are bonuses for meet and world records. These race series rely on the draws of all the races. Not just the finals.

[@efisgpr]

She was INVITED!! 😂

[@maxb148]

​@efisgpr she was invited by the Brussels promoter not Diamond League. Also just because she got invited doesn't mean she has to accept it.

[@botaeng2]

Rules are rules... thats about it, even though id love to see her run in the finals, maybe next season she'll compete more to qualify for the finals.

[@frauhorn]

Feels like Sydney runs about two meets per year. Compare that with Mondo, Femke, Jakob who compete ALL the time. Others like Grant, Sha'Carri compete quite often as well. We get to know those people and are invested in them. There is more to athletics than posting fast times.

[@dariusgear1]

All she has to do is take part in Diamond league as the rules state

[@Aubrella11]

I totally get both sides. Not really fair to the athletes who do run year long in the DL to have Syd show up in the final without having Syd run a single DL race and then destroying them. But at the same time she is the sports biggest star and you just don’t turn away giant stars that can raise your sport to another level. She is a generational talent.

[@lynncronje59]

I get that it will gain views, but does DL end this year forever? What you think will happen next season, will all the elite athletes return to be humiliated by DL and double standards? how will that help for the sports if little to none of our favorite athletes line up at the DL? because they supported and competed whole year for another star to take the title without putting in any work whole year. this makes no sense.

[@carlosflanders518]

How often does Sydney compete? Athletes competing infrequently will always fall under doping suspicion. Is this common for her coach's runners?

[@SuperHollywood809]

3:45 Paulino would beat Sydney any day on the 400m flat .

[@DrDew-m7y]

We will see who puts up a faster time, Sydney in the "B" 400m race or Paulino in the "A" 400m race. My prediction is Sydney.

[@tanyataylor5530]

I love Track and Field but did not know this was a thing until this issue. I hope all the fast girls sign up for this race... Sha'Carri, Sherricka, Elaine if she is healthy, heck they could even bring Mommy Rocket. I suppose Sydney should race more...but I get it, fresh legs win races. 😂 Anyway, it will be interesting to see who runs against her.

[@ReginaldPowell-tt9ow]

this is disappointing, but fair.

[@Iamjustkiddings]

She disappointed her fans

[@efisgpr]

DL is second-tier. EC's are second-tier. She'll make them all look like amateurs again at Worlds and LA28.

[@spenceramory720]

Remember when the Williams sisters were criticized for not playing in enough tournaments?

[@Goose8585]

Rules are rules. Maybe they can be changed in the future as rules have changed throughout all of history, but you gotta respect what's currently the rule. Personally, i think this rule is bad for the integrity of the sport. Should either hold open qualifiers or just invite based on the rankings. Not allowing the best to compete because they arent an avid participant of a privately owned competition in the past just screams manipulation potential.

[@benjaminbaker2959]

McLaughlin for president

[@n8george]

The consequence of only racing 4-6 times a season.

[@efisgpr]

CEO is still mad she DESTROYED Bol in Paris. 😂

[@nanoRat]

Bob Kersey KNOWS how to coach an elite athlete. It was obvious that Femke Bol was over-raced in the Olympics. Why can't SOME accommodations be made LIKE Olympic (or other major race) placements to be counted in the Diamond league. It sounds to me that it is just a matter of ego.

[@TheTrailRabbit]

Different events

[@corv1386]

Simple remedy: race more during the year, earn the qualifying point! That’s the whole idea of the Diamond League. It’s a league.

[@willc9866]

There should be a superstar clause for these races. If you are an Olympic medalist (even more if you are a multiple medalist, and most of all if you are a multiple Gold medalist AND world record holder/shatterer), you should be free to run in any "similar" race - so for Sydney Mac, that should be not only the 400 hurdles but also the 400 flat, the 200 flat and maybe even the 800 flat. Give the greats every opportunity they desire to race before their adoring fans. I am NOT saying that she can just show up and run in the "finals" but once an athlete has achieve what she has, she should be able to run when she feels like it! (With what happened in the US trials to Athing Mu in mind, I have a similar idea for the US trials - when someone is a defending Olympian medalist or world champion and has already run a "super-qualifying" time - I leave that undefined for the moment, but the point is clear - within a reasonable time period before the trials, then that person should NOT need to qualify at the trials.)

[@tonyamade901]

I agree the DL leadership messed this one up. If I were competing against her, and I'd been running all season and had a lot more meters under my belt, it wouldn't be fair for her to come in more rested - no matter her ability - and race in the final. I get that. Also as an athlete, I'd want to compete against the best in the field. If the best is not there and I win, it's still an accomplishment - but I can't say I'm the best in the world.

[@xers999]

Exceptional athletes, such as world record holders or most recent Olympic champions, should be given an exempt status.

[@maxb148]

Except she isn't the WR holder or reigning Olympic champion in the 200m or the 400m, the events she was planning on running so your point is completely invalid

[@willstuart4504]

Im thinking this WAS the plan all along.... hard to say for sure, but I am happy that we'll be able to see her run the 400m specifically. She could still blaze it.... if anybody knows how to run Fast all alone, it's Sydney. Thanks for the video mate...👍👍

[@peterearl2945]

Absolutely correct. Rules are rules I'm afraid. You wanna compete then start running. What makes you so special! Trying to take away money from athletes that compete all season.

[@kingscoops]

What is the point of wildcards if not to bring in attention and make races as competitive as possible. While I agree she isn’t eligible as a qualifier I just don’t see the point in having wildcards at all if not to be used in situations like this.

[@izzardclips9350]

The wild cards are meant for the World Record holders/The reigning World/Olympic champions in the event that they DO dominate. Sydney would have been eligible for a wild card in the hurdles despite not competing in the earlier league events, but not in the flat 200m or 400m.

[@kingscoops]

@@izzardclips9350 yeah I know but it would have brought viewers and attention to the event. Which I suppose is why they are now giving her a “special” replacement event. But imo they should have just let her attempt the double with wildcard slots.

[@MerrillllirreM]

I completely agree. As much as I want Sydney McLaughlin Levrone to win everything she runs in, she shouldn't be allowed to circumnavigate the rules because of her grand status ...we don't want Athletics to become like Boxing where it's like the Wild West with Boxers big name boxers regularly queue jumping with the blessing of the sanctioning bodies and to the frustration of the boxers who've just been shafted out of position.

[@SaddleLight]

Betting it has nothing to do with “the finals”… she is in top form and wants to have a go at the WR’s in a record-legal setting before the season is over.

[@TheTrailRabbit]

No chance

[@Vinchiamo]

Most sensible comment on this entire page. The Diamond league finals were not on Sydney's agenda, where all the comments about "she should have competed in a Diamond meet if she wanted to run in the finals" show nil comprehension of the reality. The simple reality is that after the Olympics, she found herself fully fit and wanted to have a crack at posting a great 400m flat time before she ended her season. Along comes Brussel's offering her a chance to run in a top meet against the best athletes in both the 400m and 200m and she accepted the offer. The actual prize money or winning a Diamond league final is of little to no importance to her, where she purely wanted to post some top times and show everybody that she could compete and even beat the best in their own pet events

[@DrDew-m7y]

​@@Vinchiamo And I bet her time in the "B" 400m race will be faster than the winner's time in the "A" 400m race.

[@RickyAli-t5m]

I completely understand the variety of views on this subject, and there are very valid varying points, with that said, the objective should be to understand 1-Diamond leagues rules and regulations and follow them 2-Understand Sydney's and Mr. Joyner's perspective and what he is doing that is in the best interest for his athletes health and career path 3-Understand that when God closes a door He/God has a reason why (Sydney will and has understood this) 4-Let us not go against rules, let us not get heated and say anything negative bout anyone or any association, as this is slander/ James 3:15-16, let us sue this event to enable us to understand how we must go about doing things in a compliant healthy manner.

[@sitasin6545]

I understand that it's difficult for US athletes to do many events in the calendar because they're in Europe and travelling to Europe and dealing with all that's involved takes quite a bit of time, but there is a diamond league in Eugene for US athletes to at least be able to qualify as a wildcard. Plus quite a few US athletes have qualified for the finals by doing Eugene and doing London before the Olympics, and placing well in 2 meets is enough for a finals placing

[@DrDew-m7y]

I'm guessing the biggest reason that Sydney did not run in the DL event in Eugene this year was because Eugene didn't have a women's 400m hurdles, 400m flat, or 200m race at the event.

[@pewithcoachlong7100]

Many stayed overseas to train & compete in the continental tour & DL meets. So its not difficult. They just need to make sacrifices.

[@rulifaller8474]

People who are very mad about this will always find something to be very mad about. That is their problem.

[@jesajabook2177]

It's all about her coach. He his such a miracle wonder coach. Flo-Jo and other big names great a very big push by him. He knows all about getting faster. I wish her all records (200+400) - maybe she can catch Marita Koch in setting new WR's ( >11).

[@TheSolarGuyJK]

We also need a video about the Mondo and Karsten 100m dash

[@samuelcarlson1012]

I know “rules are rules” but honestly if you have a superstar you capitalize on their popularity to grow your league. This is a business.

[@Andr2w8]

Imagine how more awkward it would be if SML ran faster in the "unofficial" race than the official ones.

[@ZigZagHockey]

A rule that excldes the World Champion - she would not be "just anybody" turning up to compete and the best of the top athletes would want to compete against her - a daft rule, which neither protects or is of advantage to anyone.

[@TheTrailRabbit]

She's not the world champ in the 200 or 400.

[@Phat-rj3jo]

Similar debate happened for Mu too, that she should be on the Olympic team because she was the previous gold medal winner and the best US 800M runner. But rules are rules…..

[@soundcheck6885]

Since it is not an official Diamond league event, they could let her race against best Belgian U18 and U20 men

[@maxit7177]

This is the question. If Sidney ran in another meeting on the same day, it would still have more spectators and more television revenue.

[@xaviersmall4461]

In my opinion this would be like an Olympic champion not running at their countries trials or any heat in the Olympics itself yet they're given the opportunity to run in the final. Its a final and just like in any other sport you have tk earn your spot.

[@jimmyjones2511]

Now you know this is a lie. If Bolt was competing and he wanted to compete in the diamonds league finals there would magically be a loophole to allow him to. Let’s not kid ourselves 😂

[@My-hat]

But bold did do the diamond league (golden league as was known at one time circuit). About 30 appearances over the years 😊.

[@mlb5525]

She doesn’t need the Diamond League and it’s their loss. She makes more in endorsements than she can ever make in the DL. The DL running events after the Olympics is rather anticlimactic. This is the 1st video I’ve watched about Track and Field since the Olympics and I’m a big fan.

[@XxAziCodxX1]

Imagine not playing a ranked game in a multiplayer game and expect to be playing straight with the highest ranked people in the game 😂

[@Sawingmotion]

They should let her run, she's far superior than the other athletes and thus should not be subject to the same rules. In fact, when Athing Mu fell, they should've replaced her spot with Sydney instead.

[@ethandalton6480]

Of course she is subject to the same rules. You don't see the Argentina national football team given a wildcard into the world cup just because they're the best team. They have to qualify, like everyone else

[@BradAdams-y5f]

Disrespects all the athletes that showed up to DL meets to qualify to be in a series final.

[@michaelschultz1104]

If she wants to race in the finals then she should compete period! It won’t bring a single new eyeball to the sport.

[@delxinogaming6046]

She knew the rules. imagine lebron saying he wont play regular season, and call him in playoffs

[@tims9100]

What Track and Field needs more than anything is the best athletes to be competing against one another and Sydney is the best. Everyone saying “qualifying rules need to be respected” would by lying if the said they did not want to see Sydney compete. Give the people what they want to see!