Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has recently added another accolade to her growing list of honors, with her hometown of Dunellen, New Jersey, celebrating her incredible achievements. Back in 2021, the town named a track in Columbia Park after her, but in 2024, the celebrations reached new heights as she was honored in a heartfelt ceremony attended by family, friends, and those who played key roles in her development.
Dunellen, a small, tight-knit community, has seen its reputation grow thanks to McLaughlin-Levrone’s world-class performances. Having won two more gold medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics and set her sixth world record, the community came together to recognize her accomplishments in a big way. The town’s mayor, Jason Cilento, recalled a comment from three years earlier when he jokingly suggested that the town might one day be renamed after her. During this year’s event, he joked once again about renaming Dunellen, sparking laughter from the crowd.
Though the town’s name will remain Dunellen, McLaughlin-Levrone received a symbolic key to the city, a plaque, and had Fairview Avenue renamed in her honor. She was also recognized with a joint proclamation from Dunellen’s sister cities in Italy. A special plaque was also presented to honor her parents, Willie and Mary McLaughlin.
The event brought together past Olympians and McLaughlin-Levrone’s former teachers, who shared stories about her kindness, work ethic, and ability to inspire. Her fourth-grade teacher, Brendan Tennant, now the principal of Faber Elementary, spoke about how she continues to motivate the next generation of athletes in Dunellen, reminding them that their dreams are worth chasing.
As the ceremony drew to a close, it became clear that while Dunellen is still the town’s official name, the community’s admiration for McLaughlin-Levrone has made it feel like her legacy is deeply embedded in its streets, with many now jokingly referring to it as “McLaughlinville.”
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