Growing up in a small town in Middlesex County, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone fell in love with track and field at the tender age of 8. Emerging like a phoenix from the ashes, McLaughlin-Levrone expanded her reign from Dunellen to the entire world. Her journey in international competitions has been quite emphatic. 100% actually. After failing at her first attempt at the Olympics in the Rio 2016 semi-final heats and clinching the 5th spot, the 25-year-old went on to participate in four Olympic events so far. And guess how many gold medals she won ever since?

Yes. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won all four of her events in the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. Getting the crown as one of the best modern-day female 400mH runners, McLaughlin-Levrone’s homecoming was expectedly a pleasant experience. But in reality, the 4x Olympic gold medalist’s journey back to his hometown turned out to be quite the event, even sweeping the legend off her feet. 

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is overwhelmed in her hometown

The Columbia Park Football Field was buzzing in anticipation as their Olympic hero stepped foot on the land from where it all began. Interestingly, a couple of years back, McLaughlin-Levrone received a significant honor when the track was renamed after her. Three years later, Jason Cliento, the Mayor of Dunellen, had an even better surprise. McLaughlinville.

Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? A county being honored by getting renamed after their homegrown athlete? Imagine reading this headline: Middlesex’s newest county will now forever bear testimony to the legend of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. Well, that’s more like a half-true version of what really happened.

While the mayor did clear any confusion one might have, stating, “I’m just joking. That’s not breaking news. Renaming a town is actually pretty difficult and I think we can all agree that we like the name Dunellen.” But Sydney didn’t go back empty-handed, as she was being awaited by a set of heartwarming gifts from her city, indeed.

Receiving the key to the city on a beautiful plaque, Fairview Avenue’s honorary street naming, several proclamations honoring her success, along with a plaque honoring her parents, Willie and Mary McLaughlin, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone received an unprecedented hero’s welcome, indeed.

McLaughlin-Levrone goes gaga over Dunellen

You can separate Dunellen from McLaughlin-Levrone but cannot separate McLaughlin-Levrone from Dunellen. Aiding to her professional commitments, the 25-year-old champion had to bid a temporary farewell to her hometown. However, the roots of Dunellen seem to run really deep in the Olympian’s veins.

Quite frankly, this was nothing that the Olympic champion had ever expected. Overwhelmed with the honors, McLaughlin-Levrone expressed her emotions while detailing her strong connection with Dunellen. The Olympic champion said, “I’m always at a loss for words whenever I come home, honestly… It was here where I first fell in love with track and field. It was here where the dream became stuck in my mind since I was 8 years old that this was my passion.”

She further thanked her family and the Almighty for blessing her with so much opportunity and support. McLaughlin-Levrone also handed the flowers to the people of her town, without whom her journey to track and field ascension would have been incomplete. As she spoke on the public address system, the entire arena went berserk with chants of ‘Sydney’ bringing up the decibel well above the safe levels. Interacting with the crowd, McLaughlin-Levrone seemed jubilant, as she doubled down on the power her small town packs. 

Witnessing history being made at McLaughlinville, the 4x Olympic gold medalist could not control her emotions as she said, “It honestly brings me so much joy every time on that TV where I see hometown and it says Dunellen, New Jersey, I truly enjoy that moment.”

Witnessing history being made at McLaughlinville, the 4x Olympic gold medalist could not control her emotions as she said, “It honestly brings me so much joy every time on that TV where I see hometown and it says Dunellen, New Jersey, I truly enjoy that moment.”

The 400mH queen then went on an elaborate verbal trip explaining the specialty of her hometown. She said that despite being a “one-square-mile town,” her village packs enough punch to propel a simple 8-year-old to the heights of sporting greatness. Thus, with her soul connected with Dunellen, this is surely not the last time we hear Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone praising her very own roots.