When Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone chose to run in the flat 400m over hurdles, she only wanted to prove it to herself that she can do it. And behind her belief was the legendary coach Bobby Kersee. Known as the “mad scientist” for his outside-the-box methods, he was sure that “The Champ” would win the race in record time. Why? Because that’s exactly what she had prepared for– a time of under 48 seconds. In fact, when the race was about to begin, he sat in his taxi but not to go to Tokyo’s National Stadium. In Tuesday’s semifinal, the 2022 400m hurdle champion already broke a 19-year-old record with 48.29 seconds. She added more fuel in Thursday’s final. 

On a rain-soaked track, the American surged out of lane five, setting the pace early. Defending champion from Dominican Republic, Marileidy Paulino, briefly threatened to close the gap off the final bend from the outside. A composed McLaughlin-Levrone, though, powered through to finish the final 100 meters in 12.91s, the quickest in the field. 

In her debut for the 400m, the 26-year-old won by with an impressive time of 47.78 seconds—the second-fastest ever. She was just shy of the long-standing world record of 47.60 seconds, set by East Germany’s Marita Koch in 1985. All the glory went to the sprinter in front of the world, but all the hard work was undeniably also carried through by her coach behind the scenes. His hard work was certainly not eclipsed. One fan, @notsoaveragejoo, pointed out on X, “2015 Bobby Kersee coached Allyson Felix to her first 400m world title. 10 years later in 2025, Bobby Kersee coached Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone to her first 400m world title.” 

To ensure McLaughlin-Levrone’s focus was on Tokyo, the sprinter first had to miss European meets. He even started calling her “The Champ” to subconsciously build her confidence. Then, Kersee brought in former UCLA runner Willington Wright to push her. According to him, “Your sparring partner makes you work the way you’ve got to perform in the ring. Willington did that for her. He ran beside her, behind her, in front of her, took her out (fast) and did all the things that she needed to (run that time). I kept telling her 47.99 may not win it — and 47.99 would not have won it tonight.”

Kersee has trained champions through the ages, from Florence Griffith-Joyner (FloJo) to Allyson Felix. With different names on his resume, Kersee has certainly proven his adaptability to different athletes. Felix focused on endurance and race management, working on her pacing for the 400m. McLaughlin-Levrone, a hurdler known for her explosive speed, focused on revamping her technique. For World Athletics Competition, too, the American, along with Kersee, planned a bold run from the blocks.

She quickly got up the shoulder of Great Britain’s Amber Anning in the lane outside her and was more than one-tenth ahead at 100m. By halfway, she was further clear of the field. McLaughlin-Levrone managed to outpace Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino, who also clocked in a national record of 47.98, and Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, who finished at 48.19.

Kersee has been achieving success for over forty years, with his athletes snagging gold medals at every Olympics since 1984. Kersee coached Jackie Joyner, and they later got married. Joyner-Kersee is often seen as one of the greatest female athletes ever. She snagged gold in both the heptathlon and the long jump at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, she snagged her second Olympic gold medal in the heptathlon.

Similarly, FloJo teamed up with Kersee during her career and turned into an Olympic superstar and a true icon. During the 1988 Seoul Olympics, she snagged three gold medals in the 100 meters, 200 meters—where she set a world record that’s still in the books—and the 4×100 meter relay. Felix spent 18 years being coached by Kersee, and during that time, she earned multiple titles. Such a string of success really shows how his well-rounded approach combines physical strength with mental toughness. And by his resume, it’s easy to understand why the American followed the coach with no questions asked.

Nothing can beat Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and her coach’s synergy

After her gold medal run, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone captured the special connection she has with Kersee during the post-race interview. She said, “I think, you know, Bobby believed that the time was there, and I believed in Bobby and in our work. So it really just was a matter of putting the pieces together and running my race. I think it kind of just shows that anything really is possible. You just got to work for it and work really hard and just trust the Lord. And I think I don’t have any more words for you guys right now. I’m still trying to process all of it. But like I said, the word is really just grateful.”

McLaughlin-Levrone’s expression of gratitude and faith reflects Kersee’s philosophy. From FloJo’s controversial times to Felix’s enduring career and McLaughlin-Levrone’s record-breaking achievements, that trust, despite the struggles or successes was always present.

Kersee’s milestone with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in Tokyo isn’t just about coaching success. It’s about being adaptable, building trust, and chasing excellence without giving up. With McLaughlin-Levrone setting her sights on Marita Koch’s long-standing world record and the possibility of competing in both hurdles and flat races at LA Olympics 2028, it’s clear that Kersee’s influence as the mastermind behind her success is undeniable.