Track and field isn’t an easy sport, despite its relatively low popularity. On top of that, the world of the sport is incredibly competitive, making it all the more difficult for athletes to make their mark in the community. And yet, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has achieved a status that is rivaled by few. The 4x Olympic gold medalist has proved herself as one of the top track stars of her generation. But her feats are also a nod to the incredible people who have held her hands along the way.

The New Jersey native’s coach, Bob Kersee, is a legendary figure in the track and field community. But Jackie Joyner’s husband isn’t the only one who has helped McLaughlin-Levrone to reach out and grab opportunity by the scruff. Instead, it was the cumulative effort of many people who came together to help Sydney become who she is today.

The world came together to make Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s dream a reality

In her book Far Beyond Gold: Running From Fear to Faith, Levrone talked about how her life started to change while she was still in Kentucky. “The first step in becoming a professional track-and-field athlete was choosing an agent. This individual would help me enter meets, negotiate appearance fees, and handle travel,” she explained why agents are crucial for success.

With strict rules restricting athletes from conversing with agents in their first years, it was difficult for her to analyze the avenues for her professional career. And yet, it was absolutely necessary for Sydney to have someone who understood her needs and made sure she wasn’t misled. Luckily, her parents stepped in.

“My parents ended up weeding out most of my options…I trusted my parents’ judgment; they had looked out for me my entire life, and I knew if they were bringing these people in front of me, they trusted I would be in good hands.” She went on about how Mary and Willie McLaughlin did their best to find the agent who was best suited to their daughter’s requirements. And that’s when they came across Wes Felix, brother to 7x Olympic gold medalist sprinter Allyson Felix.

She elaborated on how Felix and one of the world’s best talent agencies helped to catapult her career: “…it only made sense to go with Wes Felix, who I believed would be a great representative for me. Along with Wes came the amazing opportunity to work in conjunction with William Morris Endeavor.”

Right off the bat, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone could feel she was headed in the right direction: “With Wes and my commercial agent Rob on my side, the possibilities seemed limitless.” And yet, none of them were probably as impactful in the 25-year-old’s life as her coach.

The main brains behind the Sydney’s success

With Bob Kersee, Sydney reached unprecedented heights in her career, from multiple Olympic golds to boasting the world record in the 400mH. And that, without a doubt, is also a testament to how Kersee can be dedicated to the pursuit of helping his students reach their fullest potential. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and brought the world to a halt, Kersee would go out of his way to find a solution to McLaughlin’s problems.

Enamored by her then-boyfriend Andre Levrone, Sydney decided to move to Arizona to stay together with her beau. However, Kersee wouldn’t leave Los Angeles and insisted that Sydney also do the same to continue her sprinting passion. “I can’t do long-distance coaching..if I’m going to get your best from you, I got to be with you day in and day out,” Sydney said in her book about how Kersee was adamant about working together.

But once she decided to pay heed to his wise words, she understood just how much Bob wanted her to win in life. They looked for training facilities together, and Kersee didn’t hesitate to get Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone to train in public spaces. It all paid off, and the Kentucky graduate is one of the foremost track runners in the world.

Who do you think had the most impact on Sydney’s life? Tell us in the comments!