2x Olympic Champion Sydney McLaughlin just turned 25 and already has her eyes set on a third Olympic gold. The American hurdler and sprinter competes in the 400 m hurdles and was the World Youth Champion in 2015 in her early career. And now, having already broken five world records, she is all set to prove her excellence once again at the Paris Olympics. Here at the Olympics, she is all set for a showdown with her biggest competitor, the Netherlands’ Femke Bol, the reigning world champion.

“Iron sharpens iron. It’s always fun racing the best, and I know we’re going to push each other.” Sydney had said about her rivalry with Femke (as reported by Yahoo.com). Right now, Sydney is 2-0 against Femke, courtesy of beating her at the Tokyo Olympics and 2022 world championships. The next face-off between them will take place within a day. While we wait for the finale, let us know more about Sydney and her background.

Where is Sydney McLaughlin from, and what is her ethnicity?

Sydney was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, on August 7, 1999. She grew up in Dunellen, New Jersey, and attended Union Catholic Regional High School in Scotch Plains. She is of mixed ethnicity, as her father, Willie McLaughlin, is of African-American heritage. and her mother, Mary Neumeister McLaughlin, is of European descent. All of Sydney’s immediate family members have participated in track at one point or another. Her father was a three-time NCAA All-American in the 400-meter and nearly made the Olympic team in 1984. Her mother was active on the boy’s track team in high school. Not just Sydney, but her siblings too, are passionate about track and field!

Sydney and her three siblings had an active childhood. Not just track; they were also active participants in other sports like basketball, soccer, and dance. But for all of them, Track was their favorite. The healthy sibling ‘rivalry’ and competition helped hone her athletic skills and motivated her to perform better each time. Now, she might be excellent at it, but her life and interests do not just revolve around track and field.

Sydney McLaughlin, apart from being a decorated athlete, is also a published author! Her first book, titled ‘Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith,’ was released in January. Here, she describes the mental struggles and anxiety she faces as a professional athlete and how she manages to take care of her mental health. She talks about the role her faith plays in helping her overcome perfectionism and imposter syndrome, which she developed in spite of accomplishing so much.

Sydney’s various achievements as an athlete

Sydney had, as a 16-year-old, broken the 400-meter hurdle world junior record at the 2016 US Olympic Trials with 54.15 s. This opened her way to the Rio Olympics, where she reached the semifinals. She was the youngest athlete to qualify for the U.S. Olympic track team in 2016. Then, at the Tokyo Olympics, she won a gold medal in the 400 m hurdles and 4 x 400 m relay. She blazed through the Olympic trials in 2024 and set a world record of 50.65 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles. Additionally, she broke four world records in the same event. Sydney is also a three-time World Champion and a World Championship silver medalist. She has been honored with numerous accolades, including being voted World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year in 2022. We hope she adds another Olympic medal to her tally soon!