“If you want the personality, you’re going to have to get it here.” Those words came straight from four-time Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, and honestly, should she even have to say it? The woman has been out here rewriting the history books. But apparently, dropping world records isn’t enough—some folks want jazz hands and a halftime show, too. Since her high school days, McLaughlin-Levrone’s career has been under the microscope.McLaughlin-Levrone became the first woman in history to break both the 52-second and 51-second barriers in the 400m hurdles—all before turning 25. And just when you thought she couldn’t get any faster, she pulled up to the Paris Olympics in August, defended her title, and shattered her world record with 50.37 seconds. But instead of celebrating her greatness, some critics decided the real issue was… her personality. Apparently, running at the speed of light isn’t enough unless you also moonwalk across the finish line. The main complaints?She doesn’t race often enough.She doesn’t interact with the crowd enough.She doesn’t have a big, bold personality on the track.Well, the New Jersey native finally had enough and decided to set the record straight on Spill the Tee. “I get a lot of flak for not showing enough personality on the track, but it’s because I’m trying to give y’all the best performances possible. Period,” she said. Then came the final blow: “Pick one. We can’t have both. Period. Okay, thank you.” And just like that, the haters were left speechless. But wait, Michael Johnson, the four-time Olympic champ and current Grand Slam Track CEO backed her up and shut down the noise once and for all. No surprise there—after all, he signed her as the league’s first athlete last year!Johnson took to X to set the record straight, saying, “You don’t have to hope. She was the first athlete to sign a @GrandSlamTrack contract committing to fans that she will run 8 races per year against the best in the world.” Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is not ducking competition, she’s locked in. But what prompted him to say this? Well, the reason was Sydney’s fan!You don’t have to hope. She was the first athlete to sign a @GrandSlamTrack contract committing to fans that she will run 8 races per year against the best in the world.— Michael Johnson (@MJGold) February 22, 2025 A supporter had commented, “I’m just hopeful she will race more. Her racing was so sparse, it would be like watching Michael Jordan play only 30 games a season. Amazing to watch when it happens, just wish it happened more. Love her, loved her book. Glad she’s got new opportunities to consider.” Johnson saw the message and didn’t hesitate to respond, making it crystal clear—Sydney isn’t running less, she’s running more and against the best. But why was she the first athlete he signed in the first place? Well, there’s a story behind that.Johnson sees himself in Sydney McLaughlin-LevroneMichael Johnson has revealed why the hurdler was the first athlete to sign with the Grand Slam Track League. The eight-time world champion sees himself in McLaughlin-Levrone, particularly in how she approaches competition with laser focus and no unnecessary theatrics. Johnson admitted he faced similar criticism during his career for being “too serious” on the track. But like the 25-year-old, he let his performances speak for themselves. “One reason Sydney was the first athlete I signed is because I identify with her. I was also criticized for not showing personality because I was all business on the track, which is how I got the results. After the race is where you got to see my personality,” Johnson explained in a tweet on X. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s reserved nature has long been debated among fans, with some even questioning if she ever smiles. Ironically, that quiet intensity is what drew Johnson to her in the first place.The Grand Slam Track League, debuting in April in Kingston, Jamaica, before moving to Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, offers one of the biggest prize pools in the sport, with winners earning $100,000 and a total prize fund of $12.6 million. With Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone leading the charge, the league is set to showcase elite competition at its highest level—no extra theatrics required.The post Trolled by Critics Over Personality Issues Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Receives Support From Amercian Track and Field Legend appeared first on EssentiallySports.