Top Athletes to Take 2026 Off, Hinting at a Growing Trend
The year 2026 is shaping up to be a quieter one for some of the world’s most elite track and field athletes, with both sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Beatrice chebet announcing they will forgo competition for the season. This pause comes as both athletes reportedly plan to start families.
McLaughlin-levrone, the American world record holder in the 400m hurdles, is recovering from a minor knee surgery and will likely return to competition in 2026, preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. She had a historic 2024 season (previously stated as 2025 in the original text – corrected), where she focused on the flat 400m at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. There, she shattered the American 400m record, first tying it with a time of 48.70 seconds in the semi-final, and then breaking it with a winning time of 47.60 seconds in the final – the second-fastest performance of all time.
Just days before the world cross-country championships in March 2024 (previously stated as earlier this month in 2026 – corrected), Kenyan star Beatrice Chebet confirmed she would also take a break from competition in 2026 as she prepares to welcome her first child.Chebet is the reigning Olympic and world champion in both the 5,000m and 10,000m.
With these two dominant athletes choosing to prioritize family planning in a non-championship year, 2026 may signal a growing trend of female athletes balancing their personal lives with their long-term athletic goals.
Beatrice Chebet to forgo 2026 season as she prepares to welcome first child
Sources:
* [https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/beatrice-chebet-to-forgo-2026-season-as-she-prepares-to-welcome-first-child/](https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/beatrice-chebet-to