Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, coming off yet another Olympic high, went on to recently connect with someone who wishes to live her journey. Sydney met with six-year-old Alaya Armbrister, who is a two-time AAU Gold Medalist and two-time Speed Capital MVP. The two had a wholesome interaction, and Sydney even went on to remind Alaya to “run your race.” And that was no passing statement either!

Sydney said it because she sees a lot of her old self in Alaya. “Honestly, I was just like Alaya. I always wanted to be a track athlete; I always aspired to go to the Olympics. So, this being my third Olympics and being able to break that record for the sixth time, it’s nothing short of God’s grace,” said Sydney in an episode of the Jennifer Hudson Show. This heartfelt connection to Alaya not only inspires but also reinforces Sydney’s own narrative that is built on experience.

Alaya, determined to draw from this abyss of experience, went on to ask Sydney about her strategy. A question that would normally call for a diplomatic answer was replaced by a wholesome piece of advice. “My strategy when I run the 400, you wanna get out that first 100 really hard and maintain down the backstretch, right? So, you get out into a good pace and maintain until 200. Then, when you get right into 250, that’s when you start to really kick again for that last 100. And then that last 50, when all the lactic acid starts to hit you, you just keep that form.”

Now, that is tactical wisdom from one of the fastest women! And nonetheless, a woman who has broken her own record six times! Sydney’s most recent record break was at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She broke her own record, clocking 50.37 seconds in the 400m hurdles. But Alaya was already on the track, living up to the wisdom! Sydney noted, “Which I saw you (Alaya) kept your form really good during the race. Keep those arms coming, right? You already know that; it’s so inspiring, and it encourages me to want to continue to be better because I remember being that young.”

As the conversation between Sydney and Alaya unraveled, one thing was clear. This was not just an idol interacting with her fans. It was a nostalgic moment of shared dreams and aspirations. “It motivates me to want to continue to push forward, too, because I know that young, amazing athletes like her are watching me,” added Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

Sydney did not stop there; she went on to say, “Just continue to run your race; everybody progresses differently, and every athlete progresses differently. So, focus on your lane, focus on what’s ahead of you, and don’t compare your journey to anybody else’s.” Who better to say that than someone who has been running her own race in a league her speed creates that nobody’s entered for quite some time? Sydney’s journey, however, unlike Alaya’s, did not start so early.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s journey began much later!

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s ascent to the top started off in 2014, during her time in high school. Her parents, Willie and Mary McLaughlin, were the driving force behind her athletic journey. They encouraged her to develop a love for the sport at her own pace. Despite being track and field stars themselves, they let Sydney find her own love for the sport. “I credit them so much for how they handled my young years. They really wanted me to grow and develop number one, my body, and number two, my love for the sport naturally,” said Sydney, reminiscing.

It is safe to say that the approach, rooted in patience, worked out for the family. Sydney, in 2014 itself, went on to win second place in the National Junior Championship and even set a World Age Group Best, clocking 13.34 in the 100-meter hurdles. She followed it up in 2015, winning the World Youth Championships, clocking 55.94 in 400m hurdles. 2016 was a glorious year, too.

Sydney went on to win the New Balance National Outdoor High School Championships and the USATF Junior Championships. She also created history that year by qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics after finishing third in the 400-meter hurdles. At 16, she became the youngest to qualify for the Olympics since 1980! At the 2016 Rio Olympics, however, she did not make it to the podium and finished fifth in the semi-final heat.

As Sydney’s father and three-time NCAA All-American puts it, “We wanted them (Sydney and her siblings) to perform best when it counted most.” And perform she continues to! As the dust settles on the highs of the Paris Olympics, the question of what’s next hangs in the air. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has two things on the radar for the world to watch out for. She will be seen at the World Championships in Tokyo and the upcoming Grand Slam Track. The world will have to wait and see what new magic unfolds!