“Getting to wake up next to your best friend and tackle whatever challenges the day has is so exciting.” Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone told PEOPLE. While the Olympian didn’t take too long to understand that Andre Levrone was the one for her, she had some doubts in the beginning. It was that sense of doubt that led her to an embarrassing blunder early on.

On their first date, Andre Levrone arrived in a sweatshirt, which surprised McLaughlin-Levrone. However, the former NFL star’s getup was a deliberate move so he could present the “everyday self” to the track and field phenom. Halfway through their date, the 25-year-old realized she liked him but felt everything was too perfect. A month into dating, that feeling remained, and it was another one of Levrone’s honest confessions that put the Olympic gold medalist at unease.

After one of their early dates, the former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Andre Levrone took the conversation in a more serious direction, speaking without barriers. The then 25-year-old explained how leaving football had been a bittersweet feeling; he spoke about his faith and “aspects of his life others would have concealed.” However, it was too much and too soon for the former world champion. This level of vulnerability was new to Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, as her past dating experiences had been more superficial and focused on fun rather than deep conversations.

Later, the sprinter decided to speak to Levrone, but not before consulting her church counselor. The next day, she prepared to talk to Andre about her concerns, wanting to set boundaries and ensure they weren’t moving too quickly. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone aimed to communicate her feelings in a mature and biblical manner. The meeting resulted in Levrone writing down a speech for her now husband, where Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart…” played a huge role. Yet when she spoke to the retired NFL star, things didn’t go as planned.

“I was floored. Embarrassed. Also impressed.” Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone wrote in Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith. That’s because when the Olympic medalist used the Bible quotes to say that she felt they were moving too fast, Levrone stopped her. “I just want to say, I don’t think that verse applies to this situation. Proverbs 4 depicts a father instructing his son to remain committed to the godly wisdom,” she told the athlete.

Realizing that she had got it all wrong made the four-time Olympic gold medalist feel like a fool. However, Andre Levrone’s sincerity impressed her even more. Instead of schooling the athlete, he showed patience. The conversation played a huge part in eliminating her doubts about her future husband.

Why Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone remained doubtful at the beginning

Andre Levrone and the Queen of the 400m hurdles had known about one another through a mutual friend. However, it wasn’t until Levrone initiated a conversation online that the hurdler and the former NFL star formed a connection. However, despite agreeing to go on a date, the Olympian approached the situation with caution.

“Less than a year earlier, my heart had been torn to pieces. I was terrified of that happening again.” She wrote in her book. So, while she liked everything about Andre Levrone, she was searching for the red flags even when she couldn’t find any. “Where’s the flaw? What am I missing? Why is ‘Mr. Perfect’ still single? Something must be wrong with him.” McLaughlin-Levrone thought to herself.

However, as their conversation surrounding Proverbs 4:23 proved, Andre Levrone didn’t have the red flags she was looking for. From that point, it was smooth sailing. Andre Levrone proposed to Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone eight months after their first date, and the pair got engaged. In May 2022, less than a year after their first date, the couple were married.