Renowned hurdler and sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone recently opened up about overcoming mental barriers related to her performance following the 2024 Paris Olympics. She reflected on a key realization she had during the event.
McLaughlin-Levrone, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, previously won gold at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, setting a 400m hurdles record with a time of 50.68 seconds. She recalled the intense pain she endured during that race and admitted she had been hesitant to push herself to that level again.
During an appearance on ‘The Jinger & Jeremy Podcast’ alongside her husband, Andre Levrone Jr., the 400-meter hurdles world record holder shared:
“Ever since Oregon 2022, when I ran 50.6 for the first time, I’ve been afraid of experiencing that kind of pain again. I felt like I was holding myself back because I was scared of returning to that mental space.”
She went on to explain that she had to come to terms with the fact that the talents she has been given will not always lead to an easy path. “Sometimes, it requires discomfort, and I had to mentally push past that fear. That’s what I was reflecting on after the Olympics,” she said.
McLaughlin-Levrone boasts four World Championship medals and one from the World Youth Championships. She also holds an NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championship record in the 400 meters.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she secured two gold medals—one in the 400-meter hurdles and another in the 4×400-meter relay. Notably, she set a new world record in the 400-meter hurdles, finishing in 50.37 seconds, marking the sixth time she has broken the record.
Speaking about her achievement in an interview with the Olympics, she described the moment as “surreal” and expressed feeling “blessed” and “excited” about her accomplishments. “An amazing, amazing opportunity. And I’m grateful,” she said.
During her collegiate years, McLaughlin-Levrone competed for the Kentucky Wildcats. She made a strong debut at the SEC Championship, breaking the collegiate record in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 52.75 seconds. In 2017, she contributed to a world record in the indoor distance medley relay at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, alongside Emma Coburn, Brenda Martinez, and Jenny Simpson.
In 2016, at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, she set a world youth best and world junior record in the 400-meter hurdles, showcasing her talent early in her career.
Be the first to comment