Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, fresh off her incredible performance at the Paris Olympics, where she snagged two gold medals and shattered her own world record in the 400-meter hurdles, made a heartwarming return to her alma mater. The occasion? The unveiling of a new Olympic banner celebrating her outstanding achievements! It’s been an exciting week for the New Jersey native, who also received recognition in her hometown of Dunellen at Columbia Park—where she trained as a young athlete on the oval now proudly named the Sydney McLaughlin Track.

To celebrate her incredible achievements in Paris, Sydney returned to her roots at Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, on September 24, 2024, where she unveiled an Olympic banner honoring her impressive accomplishments.

It was all because Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone stole the show in the women’s 400-meter hurdles and 4×400-meter relay events, which she successfully defended. With a run of 50.37 seconds, she won her second individual Olympic gold medal and broke her personal record in the 400-meter hurdles for the sixth time. Her time of 50 minutes and 37 seconds put her ahead of Femke Bol and Anna Cockrell, who finished in 52 minutes and 15 seconds and 51 minutes and 87 seconds, respectively.

On the second leg of the 4×400-meter relay race, Sydney ran a scorching 47.71 seconds, proving once again how fast she is. Her performance was instrumental in the team breaking a national record with a time of 3:15. 27 Surpassing both the Dutch and British teams, who finished at 3:19.50 and 3:19.72.

Being a native of New Jersey and a Union Catholic graduate from 2017 made this particular moment very special for Sydney McLaughlin Levrone. She has already been recognized for her achievements at both the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Games; hence, this acknowledgment seemed like a tribute to her accomplishments. Additionally, she has been honored in the Hall of Fame at the University of Kentucky. This further solidifies her status as one of the legends in the world of sports!

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s memorable speech hits the nail on the head

On the 23rd of September, around 2k fans gathered to see Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in person. Sydney was joined by her family, Sister Percylee Hart, principal of Union Catholic High School track coach Mike McCabe, along with friends and supporters who were all excited to commemorate her accomplishments.

At the event, the Union Catholics 2024 Hall of Fame ceremony, Sydney McLaughlin Levrone’s speech deeply connected with all attendees. Through reflecting on her journey, she emphasized the impact of her university experience in molding her into the athlete she has become today. The talented young athlete shared insights into her performance in 2024. She highlighted that her historic win in Paris was just a small part of a larger narrative encompassing her personal growth and journey toward success.

In a moment that had everyone laughing in her speech, Sydney shared some lighthearted stories from her college days. She talked about how watching incredible athletes like Kenny Harrison and Omar McLoud inspired her to train like a pro. With a big smile, she quipped, “I learned what true friendship looks like, and I learned how to do my laundry for the first time!” This playful comment highlighted a key theme of her speech: her time at the University of Kentucky wasn’t just about winning medals; it was also about gaining life skills and building the character that has helped her become the champion we see today.