Back in 2016, the track and field was world introduced to a name that no one realized would soon be everywhere—Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. At just 16, she made her Olympic debut in the 400m hurdles, not even old enough to be called an adult. Although she didn’t make it past the semi-finals that year, placing fifth, her story was far from over.

Fast forward a few years to 2021, and not only did she smash her rival Dalilah Muhammad’s world record at the Olympic trials, but she also took home gold at the Tokyo Olympics! After not qualifying at the Rio Olympics because of nerves during her first race, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has now opened up about her journey leading up to the Tokyo Olympics.

In Far Beyond Gold, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone opened up about her emotional journey at the 2016 Olympics. She shared how stepping onto the track made her feel invincible but also recalls the fears that nearly tore her down. Those fears, though, didn’t last forever. Through her faith, she explains how she found freedom, saying “forever free thanks to Jesus’ sacrifice.” And right before her first race, her dad’s words echoed in her mind, telling her: “Syd, be the butterfly.” That message of transformation became her source of strength and freedom moving forward.

So, what exactly happened for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in 2016? Well, Sydney found herself in total panic mode before her first US Olympic trials race. She couldn’t shake the overwhelming nerves and ended up calling her dad, saying, “Can I please pull out of this race? I begged my father, feeling half my age.” The tears were flowing, and she was desperate to bail. But her dad, in his usual calm tone, reassured her and convinced her to just push through the first round.

After the call, Sydney knew she had to face the race. She found a bathroom, threw up, and then got back to the track, muttering, “God’s got you.” Even though she was unsure about her faith at the time, she clung to that phrase, hoping it would get her through. Once she stepped on the track, all that fear melted away, replaced by her fierce competitive spirit—the same fire she’d had since her very first race.

At the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, Sydney McLaughlin put on a show in the 400-meter hurdles, clocking an impressive 54.15 seconds to snag third place and setting a new world youth best and junior record. Talk about a way to qualify for the Olympics before even finishing high school! She became the youngest athlete to make the American Olympic track and field team since Carol Lewis and Denean Howard in 1980.

However, when she hit the track in Rio, things didn’t go quite as planned, and she finished fifth in her semi-final heat, missing the finals. But, making it to the Olympics at that age? Major flex! Despite the loss, since that moment, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has totally leaned into her faith, finding a real connection with God amidst challenges as she geared up for future Olympic Games as well.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s faith journey

It started when Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s journey against Dalilah Muhammad started and it has been nothing short of thrilling! It kicked off in 2019 at the Toyota USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships, where she snagged a solid second place, finishing at 52.88 seconds while Dalilah sped past with an impressive 52.20. The clash continued to heat up at the IAAF World Championships in Doha, where Sydney was right on her heels, finishing just 0.07 seconds behind Muhammad. Despite that, she still clocked the third-fastest time ever!