It isn't clear that she is talking about Sydney at all tbh. Perhaps she just feels like a winner because she has been so strong throughout the season and is proud of that aspect.
Yep, and if someone can beat you decisively at your specialty event after only one year of seriously trying it then that just means they were the superior athlete all along.
At least Paulino can still retire with her charity gold from Paris last year. How kind of Sydney to give her that at least.
Sydney wasn't ready to defeat Paulino last year. She devoted all of 2023 to 400 flat and didn't run nearly as fast as she expected or Kersee expected. That's why she retreated to the safe harbor of 400 hurdles for Paris.
Sydney herself said that wasn't the goal. She wrote in her book that the plan was never to run 400 hurdles again after 2022.
Fast forward to 2025 and she knows Paulino will be 31 in Los Angeles. This was perfect timing to switch to 400 flat, even if it carried considerable risk this year.
Regardless, I think Paulino's summary was perfectly understandable. Sydney is not going to be popular on the circuit when she pulls stunts like trying to barge into the Diamond League final at 200 and 400 last year despite not competing in one Diamond League meet all year and never injured. There was backlash against it and Brussels had to change course within 24 hours.
Sydney since Tokyo 2021 has chosen admired over beloved.
Sydney wasn't ready to defeat Paulino last year. She devoted all of 2023 to 400 flat and didn't run nearly as fast as she expected or Kersee expected. That's why she retreated to the safe harbor of 400 hurdles for Paris.
Sydney herself said that wasn't the goal. She wrote in her book that the plan was never to run 400 hurdles again after 2022.
Fast forward to 2025 and she knows Paulino will be 31 in Los Angeles. This was perfect timing to switch to 400 flat, even if it carried considerable risk this year.
Regardless, I think Paulino's summary was perfectly understandable. Sydney is not going to be popular on the circuit when she pulls stunts like trying to barge into the Diamond League final at 200 and 400 last year despite not competing in one Diamond League meet all year and never injured. There was backlash against it and Brussels had to change course within 24 hours.
Sydney since Tokyo 2021 has chosen admired over beloved.
^^ this. Getting thrashed by Paulino in Paris 23 meant Kersee withdrew her from Budapest. Don't fall for that injury nonsense. The plan, as AwsiDooger says, was to switch to the flat after Eugene, but Kersee realised it was not the best move.
However...it is important to remember Sydney herself will be 29 come LA. It's not a given she will be better in 3 years time, and who knows who else will come along and run 48s. Expecting to be your best over 400m (or to be able to double) at age 29 is not easy; typically quartermilers peak between 24-27.
How so? She was out in lane 9 and couldn't even see SML. But, as the kids say, she's cooking.
Showing up once a year is both cowardly and suspicious. Paulino is more integral to the sport than SML. Messi and Ronaldo showed up for their sport. Jordan showed up. Bolt showed up. LeBron shows up. Heck, even Noah Lyles shows up. And that's why SML can never be the face of the sport.
Sydney raced 12 times this year...
Also lol at "cowardly"
As if Sydney didn't just give up a sure thing gold medal in the 400h to challenge herself by moving to the flat
Only because GST brought meets to her doorstep. Going forward she'll be back to hiding away in her usual low level domestic meets maybe competing at a single meet in Europe after the big meet of the year is over.
What you SML fans haven't picked up is that Paulino's comments can be taken as a veiled suggestion that SML is doping. She sounds as though she doesn't trust SML is a clean athlete. If posters here think SML is doping it wouldn't be surprising if other athletes do.
This post was edited 1 minute after it was posted.
What you SML fans haven't picked up is that Paulino's comments can be taken as a veiled suggestion that SML is doping. She sounds as though she doesn't trust SML is a clean athlete. If posters here think SML is doping it wouldn't be surprising if other athletes do.
Your post presumes Paulino herself is clean. But you are probably the only one that interpreted her comments with that meaning.
"I feel like the winner because I’ve spent five years in a row running 10 or 15 races. Running isn’t just about doing one or two. It’s about being consistent, running a lot, because this is why sport exists — to compete. Not just to challenge yourself twice a year.”
Paulino loves the sport and gives back to the fans.
SML races a bunch of B races all season and only shows up the Championship. She's talented AF but doesnt care about the sport. There's a reason track fans cant warm to her.
What you SML fans haven't picked up is that Paulino's comments can be taken as a veiled suggestion that SML is doping. She sounds as though she doesn't trust SML is a clean athlete. If posters here think SML is doping it wouldn't be surprising if other athletes do.
Your post presumes Paulino herself is clean. But you are probably the only one that interpreted her comments with that meaning.
You're correct - others haven't picked up that meaning. It doesn't mean it isn't there.
My post doesn't presume Paulino is clean. I would be surprised if she is, just as I would be with SML. But Paulino could still be implying that with SML. A runner who doesn't regularly turn up but wins the biggest races and runs the fastest times arouses suspicions in this sport. Makhloufi.
Your post presumes Paulino herself is clean. But you are probably the only one that interpreted her comments with that meaning.
You're correct - others haven't picked up that meaning. It doesn't mean it isn't there.
My post doesn't presume Paulino is clean. I would be surprised if she is, just as I would be with SML. But Paulino could still be implying that with SML. A runner who doesn't regularly turn up but wins the biggest races and runs the fastest times arouses suspicions in this sport. Makhloufi.
Definitely an interesting angle.
Ignore the love in for SML for a second and just look at the facts on paper:
- Coach hugely suspected to supply drugs to his athletes.
- Athlete only ever races in her home country.
- National body just involved in a bit of a cover up regarding a drugs scandal (Knighton case).
If that was a Kenyan, Americans would immediately jump to doping.
Your post presumes Paulino herself is clean. But you are probably the only one that interpreted her comments with that meaning.
You're correct - others haven't picked up that meaning. It doesn't mean it isn't there.
My post doesn't presume Paulino is clean. I would be surprised if she is, just as I would be with SML. But Paulino could still be implying that with SML. A runner who doesn't regularly turn up but wins the biggest races and runs the fastest times arouses suspicions in this sport. Makhloufi.
If Paulino is doping it seems hypocritical to accuse Sydney of the same. Unless she is trying to divert attention away from her own suspicious behavior. But perhaps you are reading to much into it.
She ran .2 of a second faster in this WC finals than she ran last year to win gold in Paris--and she got beat by .2. That must hurt.
Yes, she knows she ran her best, a new PR. 3rd fastest time ever. And she never really stood a chance. She just couldn't contain her jealousy in this situation.
What you SML fans haven't picked up is that Paulino's comments can be taken as a veiled suggestion that SML is doping. She sounds as though she doesn't trust SML is a clean athlete. If posters here think SML is doping it wouldn't be surprising if other athletes do.
Does anyone else remember when after the Tokyo 2021 400m final, Stephenie Ann McPherson came 4th and personally went over after the race to congratulate Miller Uibo and Felix but then ignored Paulino. Then she fell to the ground and started screaming "they're on steroids!!!" and had to be consoled by her teammate, Candice McLeod?
This moment is literally on YouTube and I'm always surprised it's never been seriously mentioned as Paulino has improved year on year.
You're correct - others haven't picked up that meaning. It doesn't mean it isn't there.
My post doesn't presume Paulino is clean. I would be surprised if she is, just as I would be with SML. But Paulino could still be implying that with SML. A runner who doesn't regularly turn up but wins the biggest races and runs the fastest times arouses suspicions in this sport. Makhloufi.
If Paulino is doping it seems hypocritical to accuse Sydney of the same. Unless she is trying to divert attention away from her own suspicious behavior. But perhaps you are reading to much into it.
Half of the posters on these threads are convinced SML is doping. It isn't a stretch that some of her competitors might think the same - even if they, too, are doing it.
Does anyone else remember when after the Tokyo 2021 400m final, Stephenie Ann McPherson came 4th and personally went over after the race to congratulate Miller Uibo and Felix but then ignored Paulino. Then she fell to the ground and started screaming "they're on steroids!!!" and had to be consoled by her teammate, Candice McLeod?
This moment is literally on YouTube and I'm always surprised it's never been seriously mentioned as Paulino has improved year on year.
Starts pretty much from 9:00 on the YouTube Replay:
Sydney wasn't ready to defeat Paulino last year. She devoted all of 2023 to 400 flat and didn't run nearly as fast as she expected or Kersee expected. That's why she retreated to the safe harbor of 400 hurdles for Paris.
Sydney herself said that wasn't the goal. She wrote in her book that the plan was never to run 400 hurdles again after 2022.
Fast forward to 2025 and she knows Paulino will be 31 in Los Angeles. This was perfect timing to switch to 400 flat, even if it carried considerable risk this year.
Regardless, I think Paulino's summary was perfectly understandable. Sydney is not going to be popular on the circuit when she pulls stunts like trying to barge into the Diamond League final at 200 and 400 last year despite not competing in one Diamond League meet all year and never injured. There was backlash against it and Brussels had to change course within 24 hours.
Sydney since Tokyo 2021 has chosen admired over beloved.
Sydney’s loss to Paulino at the 2023 Paris DL meet was Sydney’s season opener. Four weeks later, Sydney ran the fastest time in the world at the U.S. championships.
"I feel like the winner because I’ve spent five years in a row running 10 or 15 races. Running isn’t just about doing one or two. It’s about being consistent, running a lot, because this is why sport exists — to compete. Not just to challenge yourself twice a year.”
Meh. I’m no fan of Syd and her crooked chemical-reliant coach, but Paulino lost. Period. Sorry ass loser who is no cleaner than Syd.
Yep. They’re both obvious dopers. Other posters in sevetal threads brought up Dr. Exum who used to be in charge of USOC drug testing. He has records of all kinds of athletes who were caught and let slide, like JJK. And who coached her and some other athletes who were let off? Good old Mr. Kersee.
