Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone thrilled the crowd at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where she claimed gold in both the women’s 400 meters and the 4×400-meter relay. Among the loudest supporters in the stands was her husband, Andre Levrone Jr., who went viral online for his animated celebration as she blazed to a historic sub-48-second finish clocking 47.78 seconds to win her first global 400-meter title and record the second-fastest time in history.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the 26-year-old star credited Andre, whom she married in May 2022, as a vital source of support behind the scenes, especially on race days. “It looks like an individual sport, but it’s really a team effort,” McLaughlin-Levrone said. “Having his support has made one of the biggest differences in my career over the last two years. It’s always fun to see his reactions, you can see the football player in him come out because he just loses his mind.”
The former NFL wide receiver who played for the Ravens, Panthers, and Jaguars before retiring in 2020 has been by her side throughout her journey. “It’s really special to have him there in those moments,” she added.
Reflecting on her record-breaking performances, McLaughlin-Levrone admitted the enormity of her achievements hasn’t fully sunk in yet. “I’m feeling great… I don’t know if it’s the jet lag, but I don’t think it’s fully hit me yet what this past week has been,” she said. “I’m sure as I settle into the off-season, it’ll definitely sink in.”
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The decision to focus on the 400 meters was a bold shift for the two-time Olympic 400-meter hurdles champion, who has repeatedly broken her own world records in that event. She began considering the switch in 2023 to push herself in a new way. “I felt like I’d reached a comfortable place in the hurdles and wanted a new challenge,” she explained. “It was definitely a tough year learning this event, but I’m so grateful we stuck with it.”
Before her gold-medal run in the final, McLaughlin-Levrone broke the 19-year-old American record in the semifinals with a time of 48.29 seconds, surpassing Sanya Richards-Ross’s 48.70 set in 2006. “I was honestly shocked. I crossed the line thinking, ‘Oh no, I ran too fast!’” she recalled with a laugh. “At first I was nervous I’d used too much energy, but even the next day I felt strong and relaxed, which made me excited for the final.”
As for what comes next, McLaughlin-Levrone is keeping her options open. “Right now, I just want to enjoy this one,” she said. “There’s always something to work toward whether it’s returning to the 400 hurdles to chase sub-50 seconds or going after the 400-meter world record there’s always another goal ahead.”
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