"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.”
I’d personally say that the sport exists to go head to head at the world championships against all of the best athletes in the world and see who wins, but hey, that’s just me.
"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.”
This one is borderline because I think it could be interpreted the way you are, but I also think she could just have meant that she feels like a winner because she's put herself out there and challenged herself many times over the past five years and that means you are a winner in the sport. Written on the page it seems clearly like a shot at Sydney, but listening to it with her original inflections and how she was responding to the interviewer it didn't sound as directed. Definitely could be, though...
Paulino just lost me as a fan. She no doubt benefited from Sydney’s presence on the track, and herself should be celebrating an incredible result. This sour response is a bad look, especially considering SML commented on the “great competition” in her brief post-race interview. Sydney beats her on the track and in professionalism, I guess.
This post was edited 1 minute after it was posted.
Agreed. Lost all respect for Paulino after her interview. So petty, non gracious, and sore loserish. Sydney’s win isn’t the only thing that sets her apart from Paulino. People show you their real selves when they lose, and now we know about Paulino.
"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.”
This one is borderline because I think it could be interpreted the way you are, but I also think she could just have meant that she feels like a winner because she's put herself out there and challenged herself many times over the past five years and that means you are a winner in the sport. Written on the page it seems clearly like a shot at Sydney, but listening to it with her original inflections and how she was responding to the interviewer it didn't sound as directed. Definitely could be, though...
She sounded angry that Syd just shows up and beats her. The impression was that she didn't think Syd had put the work in and she had. Yes I agree it could be "A" winner instead of "the" winner, but her point was clear that she wasn't impressed with Syd and felt that it's not good for the sport to just run 2 races a year. It was clearly a diss, but it's clearly her opinion and I respect her for saying it out loud.
SML has raced 12 times this year. Yes, not as many as Paulino's 18, but that's more than enough that this is an invalid comment. Sure SML hasn't done as many 400s, but that's because it's not her main event. She intentionally decided to challenge herself more by competing exclusively in an off event in world champs. Making the decision to forego a 99%+ guaranteed win and challenge herself in an off event makes track more interesting. I was getting legitimately bored of watching her win the 400H over and over, and this made her world championships run actually interesting again. Ragging on her for not racing as many 400s is quite stupid.
I actually don’t mind that Sydney races a handful of times per year. She always brings her A-game when she steps to the line, which means she is still serious about this sht.
And to read A LOT into this: If there is innuendo that by barely racing, a person can avoid a heck of a lot of drug testing that comes with winning race after race, and can prepare for a big meet by training and microdosing... is she wrong?
No, she's not. Whether we interpret this comment as benign or accusatory, she ain't wrong either way.
By Syds own description, she has a very extensive personal support system, albeit well earned, that is simply out of reach for an athlete like Paulino who is from a small relatively poor country. It is natural for the latter to have at least a small chip on her shoulder given the differences. Just part of the reality of a global sport like ours.
I love SML but I think it's a fair criticism to say she doesn't compete enough...or hasn't in the past anyway. I think Paulino phrased it poorly or her comments are being misinterpreted. Either way perhaps she ought to be thankful SML hasn't done the open 400 more often in the past.
Brother…the sport doesn’t exist simply so the best athletes can face each other at a single championship. It’s all about consistency, and developing a presence/identity through regular competition. If an athlete competes sparingly, don’t be surprised when general interest in said athlete declines, regardless of their talent.
I actually don’t mind that Sydney races a handful of times per year. She always brings her A-game when she steps to the line, which means she is still serious about this sht.
She doesn't only race a handful of times per year. This was her 12th race of the year.
I don't understand this frequent commentary about her. She graduated in 2018. Since then, she's raced between 10 and 17 times each year from 2019 to 2025 with 2 exceptions: 2020 (everything got cancelled) and 2023 (6 races, pulled out of world champs due to knee injury). Her other years have been 14, 17, 10, 15, and 12 races.
Note: I'm not a big fan of SML, but at least let's keep the commentary valid.
Interesting take on an athlete that had the guts to take on another event.
That's my thoughts exactly.
I mean you can curse your luck that a better athlete than you decided to run in the event you've made a career running, and then beat you - I get that. And back in your hotel you you can throw any kind of tantrum you want, I'm fine with that.
But come on don't say that on camera - that just comes off really poorly. Sad that in the moment she couldn't quite hold it back here.
