Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Mourns the Loss of Track and Field Olympian Ralph Mann, Whose Guidance Shaped Her Career
In early January 2025, the track and field world lost one of its most influential figures, Dr. Ralph Mann, a former Olympic silver medalist and biomechanist whose work revolutionized the way athletes approach hurdling and sprinting. Mann passed away on January 2nd, 2025, at the age of 75 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. His death sent shockwaves through the athletic community, particularly among those he directly mentored, including Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, who has expressed profound grief over his passing.
McLaughlin-Levrone, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the world record holder in the 400m hurdles, paid tribute to Mann on her social media platforms, sharing an emotional message about the significant impact he had on her career. In her Instagram story, McLaughlin-Levrone posted an unseen photograph of herself with Mann, taken during one of their training sessions. The picture captured the duo deep in conversation, with laptops and cameras surrounding them—signs of Mann’s scientific approach to improving hurdling technique. “Truly will be missed,” McLaughlin-Levrone wrote, acknowledging not only Mann’s scientific contributions but also his personal influence in shaping her athletic journey.
A Mentor Who Transformed McLaughlin-Levrone’s Career
McLaughlin-Levrone’s relationship with Ralph Mann was pivotal in her rise to the top of the track and field world. When she first encountered Mann in 2018, her hurdling technique was far from refined. At the time, she struggled with several technical aspects of the event, including her choice of leg to clear hurdles and her rhythm. In a 2019 interview, Mann had noted that Sydney “had problems” with hurdling, particularly her inability to hurdle with her opposite leg and her lack of consistency in the final stages of the race. At this point in her career, McLaughlin-Levrone was already one of the best in the world, but she had yet to perfect her technique and reach her full potential.
That changed when McLaughlin-Levrone sought out Mann’s expertise. The turning point came after McLaughlin-Levrone lost to Dalilah Muhammad at the 2019 U.S. National Championships and again at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar. Muhammad, the reigning Olympic champion, set a world record that McLaughlin-Levrone could not touch. Frustrated and desperate for answers, McLaughlin-Levrone approached Mann, asking, “What the hell do I have to do to beat her?”
Mann’s response was blunt but constructive: “You need to fix your technique, and there’s a lot to work on.” He encouraged McLaughlin-Levrone to be patient with the process, acknowledging the tremendous challenge ahead but also expressing belief that if she could address the key issues, she would become unbeatable. This conversation marked the beginning of a transformation that would culminate in McLaughlin-Levrone’s Olympic triumphs and world record-breaking performances.
In 2021, under Mann’s guidance, McLaughlin-Levrone made significant strides, particularly in the final stages of her 400m hurdles race. At the Tokyo Olympics, McLaughlin-Levrone surpassed Muhammad in the final 20 meters, clinching her first Olympic gold medal by a margin of just 0.12 seconds, while also breaking the world record. Mann’s influence was evident in the way McLaughlin-Levrone executed her race strategy—particularly her flawless performance over the final hurdles, an area where she had previously struggled.
After the Tokyo Games, Mann was quick to praise McLaughlin-Levrone for the improvements she had made. “Sydney ran the last three hurdles much better than she’s ever run them before,” Mann remarked, acknowledging the work they had done together to refine her technique.
Ralph Mann’s Legacy as Both an Athlete and Scientist
Ralph Mann’s contributions to the world of track and field extended far beyond his time as an elite athlete. As a four-time AAU National Champion and silver medalist in the 1972 Olympics, Mann was already a respected figure in the sport. However, it was his post-athletic career as a biomechanist that truly left a lasting legacy.
After completing a Ph.D. in biomechanics at Washington State University in 1975, Mann became a professor and researcher at the University of Kentucky, where he contributed to the understanding of human motion and performance. He later took his expertise to USA Track & Field, where he was instrumental in creating a sports science program that focused on enhancing the performance of elite athletes.
In 1999, Mann developed a groundbreaking software that allowed coaches to analyze an athlete’s hurdling form by overlaying a stick figure onto a video of the athlete’s performance. This software helped coaches and athletes identify areas for improvement and perfect their technique. McLaughlin-Levrone benefited greatly from this technology, which provided her with a visual representation of the ideal hurdling form and helped her make the necessary adjustments to her technique.
Mann’s work wasn’t limited to hurdling alone; his research on sprinting mechanics influenced some of the world’s best sprinters, including Noah Lyles, who won gold in the 200m at the 2024 Olympics. Mann’s ability to blend athletic performance with scientific analysis made him a sought-after consultant and mentor to athletes across various disciplines.
Dr. Iain Hunter, the current biomechanist at Brigham Young University (BYU), worked closely with Mann and praised his character and contributions to the sport. “His groundbreaking work provided invaluable knowledge to sprint and hurdle coaches,” Hunter said in a tribute. “His contributions will continue to influence the sport for generations to come.”
Michael Johnson, another track legend and Olympic gold medalist, also paid tribute to Mann, highlighting how Mann’s work helped him realize that his unorthodox sprinting style was actually an advantage. “Ralph Mann had a positive influence on the careers of many athletes and coaches,” Johnson wrote on social media. “His work was transformative, and I am grateful for the role he played in my career.”
The Legacy Lives On
Mann’s impact on McLaughlin-Levrone’s career was just one example of the profound influence he had on the world of track and field. His pioneering work in biomechanics, coupled with his hands-on approach to coaching, transformed the way athletes approached their training. Mann’s emphasis on precision, technique, and scientific analysis became the foundation for many of today’s top athletes in sprinting and hurdling.
As the track and field community mourns his loss, it is clear that Ralph Mann’s legacy will endure for many years to come. His contributions to the sport, both as an athlete and a scientist, have shaped the careers of countless athletes, including McLaughlin-Levrone, whose career will forever be intertwined with Mann’s guidance.
In the words of Ed Eyestone, the director of track and field at BYU, “Our sport is better because of his contributions as an athlete and scientist. We will be forever grateful for Ralph Mann’s work, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of athletes.”
McLaughlin-Levrone’s tribute to Mann serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of mentorship, hard work, and the scientific approach to athletic performance. As she continues to break records and inspire young athletes around the world, McLaughlin-Levrone will carry with her the lessons Mann imparted, ensuring that his legacy lives on through her achievements.
