Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone once found herself at an emotional crossroads. When she first met her now-husband, Andre Jr. Levrone for the first time, she couldn’t help but filter him through a lens of suspicion, “Where’s the flaw? What am I missing? Why is ‘Mr. Perfect’ still single? Something must be wrong with him.” This was nothing but the fear of the ‘what if’ creeping in.

After all, she’d been through a devastating heartbreak only a year before meeting Andre. Thus, she couldn’t help but be wary, for ‘what if’ she ends up in the same spot again? And, no matter how impressed she was by his mannerisms, she was on the look out for any potential red flags she could spot in him. And by this, she not just meant those visible to the eye, but even the ones concealed deep down.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone feared another failed relationship

In her book, Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith, Sydney confesses how she couldn’t initially see Andre for the man he was. Or rather, the man God was making him to be. She wrote, “Less than a year earlier, my heart had been torn to pieces. I was terrified of that happening again. I couldn’t see any red flags in Andre, but I couldn’t help but wonder if they were there, lurking in the shadows.” 

Of course, its normal for most of us to use our experiences as the reference point for our future decisions. And Sydney did just that. She had ever been committed to a man who lived his life devoted to God. And while Andre was ticking all the right boxes—he followed his faith religiously, dressed up casually on the date to reflect his original self, and showed genuine interest in all that she said, she feared if he had some unwanted traits cloaked underneath.

So much so that Andre’s honesty and transparency left her feeling uncomfortable. Indeed, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone accepted, “I’d been accustomed to going to the movies for a date, telling lots of jokes and stories, not discussing real and pressing topics.” Thus, when Andre took her to the ocean for a walk after their date and opened up about his past relationships, saying that he wanted to be completely honest with her, she did not know how to react.

To her, the entire scenario seemed too good to be true. However, it was with time that Andre could assure her of his sincerity and commitment, leading to the two transforming their relationship into a lifetime bond. Especially after the 2019 incidents left her retreating into a shell.

2019- the year when distress doubled down in Sydney’s life

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone once said. “World Records ae my favorite food.” Of course every win or loss on the track is personal to her. Particularly the one from 2019, when she’d returned crestfallen from the World Athletics Championships in Doha. She’d vowed to herself to be the 400m hurdles champion, but between the title and her stood a mighty opponent- Dalilah Muhammad.

And that evening in Doha, was like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s worst nightmare come true. After being in a tooth and neck fight with Muhammad, she feel short in the final 0.07 seconds, leading the gold to be snatched from right in front of her eyes.  Shattered to the core, she hoped to return to her comfort space, her high school boyfriend,

“Do you think there’s any possibility of us ever getting back together?” she asked. But his words, “I don’t think so” felt like a door closed right on her face. It felt like everything she was looking for crumbling right in front of her. She had everything, the Instagram followers, the money, and the status. But was she happy? No. There was an evident void in her chest and it is only with time, that conditions have improved. What do you think of her journey? Share with us below!