After a long period of winning, it is time for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s homecoming! And it is shaping up to be nothing short of a hero’s welcome. After all, she’s coming back with two golds from the 2024 Paris Olympics. This isn’t just any homecoming, though. It is a return to a place where locals have already permanently etched her name into history.

Sydney’s hometown, Dunellen, in 2021, after her two iconic Golds in Tokyo, went on to honor her and name a track at Columbia Park after her. Forever linking Sydney to where it all began. It also serves as a stark reminder of the path she has walked and the distance she has traveled. The ceremony is set to happen on September 23 at 5 p.m. at Columbia Park. But this isn’t the only reminder Sydney got lately!

At just 25, Sydney is not only a world record holder but has become a symbol of resilience and great speed. To honor the same, Sydney was recently inducted into the University of Kentucky Hall of Fame. The recognitions are piling up, and rightly so. First, a track named after her, and now, enshrined in a Hall of Fame—what a year!

But the story doesn’t end at accolades and fancy ceremonies. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s induction was not all about looking back but also about her transformative time spent at the University of Kentucky. And transform she did, even as she gave her acceptance speech. That’s right, a new side of Sydney emerged as she spoke. “I may not have a degree—sorry, Mom,” she joked. A playful reminder of the fact that she only spent a year in Kentucky.

Sydney then went on to talk about the relationships she forged there. Relationships that today she recognizes as the foundation of her speed. In one of her cheeky anecdotes, she spoke about seeing “jellyfish flying around” during grueling workouts with coach Edrick Floréal. “It was here, on this track, that I learned for the first time that 50 seconds was possible in the 400 hurdles,” she added. Ending her speech in true blue style, she went on to say, “Go Cats!”

As Sydney continues to write the next chapter of her life, her hometown is all set for a moment of lookback. And with her name already etched into Dunellen’s history, Sydney is already gearing up for her next adventure. Ozymandias might not have succeeded in immortalizing his name, but Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone? The chances are higher than ever.

A heartfelt ode before the next Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone crusade begins!

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s emotional rollercoaster did not end after she left Kentucky. She took it to Instagram and wrote, “Once a wildcat, always a wildcat!” Her post was a love letter to the UK fan base, whom she credits for always making her feel like family. “Thank you to the UK fan base for always showing such love and treating me like family. 🫶 much love!” she added.

Sydney also went on to reflect on her journey and wrote, “Definitely bled blue while I was here, so much growth and adversity that led me to where I am now.” Despite the gratitude, her post wasn’t all about looking back. It was also a signal of what the future holds. And what’s next for this track phenomenon? The World Championships in Tokyo are definitely on the radar, where, at the rate Sydney is going, she might just add another world record. But that’s not all.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is at the forefront of something brand new. The Grand Slam Track (GST). A new track league that aims to give athletes a full season of high-intensity competitions and some much-needed prize money. With the World Championships and GST on the horizon, this is just the beginning of another soon-to-be memorable chapter in Sydney’s story. And knowing Sydney, she’s bound to keep breaking records and barriers—one race at a time.