Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone on her Paris 2024 gold medals, setting a new world record and how her faith drives her

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone: “That’s why I love the 400m hurdles”

The New Jersey native mirrored her double-golden Tokyo in Paris, going on to be a part of the winning 4x400m relay squad for Team USA to bring her gold-medal haul to four across her first two Olympics.

But what has kept McLaughlin-Levrone – who hasn’t lost a 400m hurdles race since the World Championships in 2019 – driven as she’s set herself apart from the field?

“I think the fact that there’s always more that can be done,” she replied. “You know, there’s always ways to improve. And I love trying to figure out what those are and push myself to try to break those barriers and boundaries.”

While McLaughlin-Levrone toyed with the 400m flat between Tokyo and Paris, a collection of injuries sidetracked her progression. After she missed the Worlds in 2023, it was clear that her focus would remain on the event that she has owned over the last several years.

That “always improving” mantra aligns well with McLaughlin-Levrone and the hurdles: The event is heavily technical, with 10 barriers spread around one circle of the track. With the help of legendary coach Bobby Kersee, McLaughlin-Levrone has honed in on perfecting her stride pattern, as she counts her steps to stay locked in on her own lane.

“The open 400 is just a full-on sprint,” she explained. “But at least with the hurdles, I can think about something and have to work [on it]. There’s certain things that kind of just distract you from the fact that you’re running a 400. And I think that’s why I love the hurdles.”

She was also buoyed by an electric crowd inside the Stade de France, with some 70,000 fans screaming toward her – a far cry from the empty venue she triumphed in at Tokyo. And of course, her close friends and family – including her sister-in-law, who put that now-famous crown onto Sydney’s head after her win.

“Oh my goodness, the crowd is amazing; it’s so loud in there,” McLaughlin-Levrone said. “The whole experience… just having friends and family here, getting to see their faces. … I mean, this really feels like the first full Olympic moment for me.”