Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurdlers of all time, having solidified her place in track and field history. Her dominance in races is evident as she often leads by a significant margin, making it seem like a one-sided contest. Over the course of her career, she has achieved immense success, including four Olympic gold medals and breaking the world record six times.
However, McLaughlin-Levrone’s journey to becoming a legend wasn’t without its challenges. She struggled with mental health issues before reaching her current level of success. In fact, when she first qualified for the Olympics, she was hesitant about going. This was a surprising turn of events, considering she had earned a spot in the Rio Games, alongside her future rival, Dalilah Muhammad.
In her book Far Beyond Gold, McLaughlin-Levrone shared her experience during the Rio Olympic trials. At just 16 years old, she finished third in the race with a time of 54.18 seconds, setting a new U18 world record. She qualified alongside two of the best hurdlers in the world at the time—Dalilah Muhammad and Ashley Spencer. Despite the privilege of joining them on the plane to Rio, McLaughlin-Levrone’s reaction was quite different from theirs. While her peers seemed excited about the opportunity, McLaughlin-Levrone was visibly less enthusiastic. When asked how she felt about qualifying, she simply responded, “I’m just happy it’s over with. Thank you, though.” She was not satisfied with the attention the interviewer gave to Muhammad and Spencer and added, “The only pressure is the pressure I put on myself. I’m just glad I’m done. I can’t believe this.” This attitude stemmed from McLaughlin-Levrone’s internal conflict about attending the Rio Olympics. She had already made up her mind that she didn’t want to go, and after the race, she told her mother, “I’m not going. You can’t make me go. I already talked to Dad about it.”
Her decision was shocking to many, as she had the chance to become the youngest track star to go to the Olympics since 1980. But back then, McLaughlin-Levrone was not the confident athlete we know today. She was nervous about competing at such a high level. This would eventually change as she embarked on a transformative journey in her life.
By the time the Tokyo Olympic trials rolled around five years later, McLaughlin-Levrone had undergone a significant personal transformation. This change was driven by her newfound faith in God. She wrote in her book that her faith had been instrumental in shaping who she became. “Through those trials, God taught me so much. Though they were all difficult, exhausting, and emotional experiences, I’m grateful for them. They helped me understand how to rely on Christ, not myself, in any situation. They were refining me into the woman God wanted me to be,” she shared. This faith played a pivotal role in her subsequent career, including her victories in both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, and in breaking multiple world records.
McLaughlin-Levrone also credits her faith for helping her overcome setbacks, such as an injury that caused her to miss the 2023 season. Reflecting on her recovery, she explained how her belief in God helped her overcome the mental and physical challenges of getting back to the top. “After last year, having to sit out due to injury, the mental build back to the world stage felt like a mountain of a climb. Yet as I reflect on the year, I’m so thankful for the ways in which God challenged every part of me to rely solely upon Him in some of the most grueling moments.”
Today, McLaughlin-Levrone is grateful for the strength and growth she has experienced through both her faith and her athletic career. Her journey reflects the impact of her spiritual transformation on her personal and professional life, showing how faith and perseverance have been key to her extraordinary accomplishments in track and field.