Nobody does it as Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone does. Whatever she touches on track and field turns into gold. Example? She has reset the world record for an unbelievable six times in the women’s 400m hurdles event. However, as per her, the seamless performance in the tracks doesn’t come with rigorous practices only. There is something more to it, something deep! According to her, her “Faith Island” has so much to do with it. As she mentioned in her book, Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith, her faith in the Almighty comes as an important part of her life, and it remains helpful in keeping her connected. Once again, that discussion has come, and this time, Sydney has explained it from a bigger perspective. And what’s the link?

According to Sydney, track and field sports are all about competitions. The sports don’t give too many options to the athletes. There is one Olympic Games every four years as the grandest platform. Sydney has been living her Olympic dream since Rio 2016. She has had unprecedented success in the contest. But she also knows the dark part of this contest and sport. But again, per her, the faith part can help to overpower every hurdle. But how? 

On the YouTube podcast with Jinger & Jeremy Vuolo, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone shared her takes on those matters. In the episode on March 5, she said, “I think very few people will ever understand the weight of the night before an Olympic final when you’re sitting in the and you’re understanding that the whole world is going to be watching this one moment. A lot of people are actually praying that you lose and ultimately nobody else can help you once you step on that line except the Lord.” So, as per her, the athletes have no one except the Almighty helping him/her out to cross the finishing line. The mere thought of it shakes Sydney to her core. But shake might be a simple word to describe that feeling.

In the YouTube podcast, the 25-year-old remained genuine with her emotions. Per Sydney, the handling of pressure in track and field sports is overwhelming. How, you may ask. Well, Sydney has an answer for you. In the conversation, she said, “You know, like the amount of anxiety that just sits on you and weighs on you, of you get one chance when that gun goes off, it’s not like football where you get a next play.” Guess what? While Sydney was telling those in the podcast, she had her husband, Andre Levrone, seated beside her. Well, Andre has had a history of playing professional football for a long time and seemed to agree with his wife on the matter of getting a “next play” in the NFL. But that wasn’t all. Sydney had too many points to share. 

On a further note, the four-time Olympic champion said, “We talk about this all the time. This [Olympic Games] is one opportunity that comes once every four years, and it’s never promised to come back.” So, according to her, whenever she crosses the finish line on the track, she expresses gratitude to God. “I’m like, thank you, God, for getting me through this moment. Thank you for delivering me through all the anxiety and the tears and injuries and seasons of doubt and wanting to quit halfway through the season,” she claimed. Being an ardent follower of her belief, she prefers to believe that God is with her in every step, be it in her daily life or her professional career. Additionally, because of this reason, she has been able to capitalize on the limited chance she has received as a track and field athlete. But every athlete may not follow things as she does. Then what might happen to them? That’s where a certain nature of the track and field sports signs up. 

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone compares the sport once again with major American ones 

Track and field sports are “individualized” ones. The athletes must have to catch chances with both hands every time those come down. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone nurtures such a thought. In January this year, she appeared in a YouTube podcast, Clearly Reformed. There, in the interaction, she once again pointed out the certain nature of track and field sports. The deep discussion even led her to say, “It’s [track and field] definitely a very individualized sport, compared to something like football or basketball. Most of your funding is going to come from your sports shoe sponsorship.” So, someone who doesn’t have sufficient sponsorship may come to the receiving end. But such things are not so regular in other popular American sports. 

Sydney’s potent knowledge of other sports made her note, “Track is not as popular as football or basketball, so the funding is very different, and some of the opportunities are very different, so it really is for a lot of people just the love of the sport.” So again, something organic comes up as the key driving force as the reason for continuation for the athletes. In the above discussion, it was about the belief in the Almighty, and now it is about the love for the sport. Sydney has something more—the lucrative deals from the shoe companies. Sydney thinks the lack of these factors will definitely ruin the athletes’ chances. Well, do you have any takes on it? Share it with us.