Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has a storied history of success at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. In 2016, as a 16-year-old with immense potential, she captivated the audience at Hayward Field by securing third place in the 400-meter hurdles, setting a world junior record of 54.15 seconds. This remarkable feat earned her a spot on Team USA and a chance to compete at the Rio Olympics, where she advanced to the semifinals. The world recognized her talent and anticipated her future accomplishments.
Fast forward to today, McLaughlin-Levrone, now 24, is a seasoned athlete entering this year’s U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene. She previously triumphed in the 400-meter hurdles at the Covid-delayed trials in 2021, went on to win Olympic gold in Tokyo, and set the current world record of 50.68 seconds at the 2022 World Athletics Championships, surpassing her earlier record of 51.41 seconds set earlier that year.
Since establishing her latest world record, McLaughlin-Levrone has achieved significant milestones beyond her athletic success. She got married, authored a memoir, and launched a clothing line with New Balance, all while continuing her rigorous training for the 2024 Paris Olympics. On Thursday night, she began her journey to her third consecutive Olympics by easily winning her preliminary round race at the U.S. Olympic Trials with a time of 53.07 seconds.
After her race, McLaughlin-Levrone expressed her satisfaction to NBC’s Lewis Johnson, saying, “It felt good. Honestly, I’m just excited to be out here and shake off the nerves. My stride felt good, and it was just about getting the feel of the rounds again. I really felt good.”
McLaughlin-Levrone’s preparation for Paris has been marked by consistent excellence. At the Tokyo Olympics, she set a then-world record of 51.46 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles, earning a gold medal. She also contributed to the women’s 4×400-meter relay, running a 48.5-second split, which sparked speculation that she might compete in the 400 meters without hurdles. Last year, she focused on the flat 400 meters, winning the U.S. championships with a time of 48.74 seconds, the second-fastest in U.S. history and the 10th fastest all-time. This performance gave her the option to compete in either the 400 meters or 400-meter hurdles at the World Championships in Budapest, but she ultimately withdrew due to a hamstring injury.
In the lead-up to the U.S. Olympic Trials, McLaughlin-Levrone competed in five individual races, winning them all. She began her season on May 9 by winning the 100-meter hurdles (12.71 seconds) and 200 meters (22.38 seconds) at a meet in Los Angeles. Two weeks later, she won the 200 meters at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix with a personal best and world-leading time of 22.07 seconds. On May 31, at the HBCU Pro Classic/Edwin Moses Legends Meet in Atlanta, she won her first 400-meter hurdles race since 2022 with a time of 52.70 seconds, marking her 15th consecutive victory in the event since winning the silver medal at the 2019 World Championships in Doha. Her only other race this season was the open 400 meters at the USATF New York Grand Prix on June 9, where she clocked in at 48.75 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year.
Assuming McLaughlin-Levrone qualifies for Team USA in the 400-meter hurdles, she appears set for a highly anticipated showdown in Paris with Dutch athlete Femke Bol. Bol, who won the world title last year during McLaughlin-Levrone’s absence, holds the world’s fastest time this year at 52.49 seconds. She finished a close second to McLaughlin-Levrone at the 2022 World Championships with a time of 50.57 seconds and was third at the Tokyo Olympics. Bol’s personal record of 51.45 seconds ranks second on the all-time list. Earlier this year, Bol won the 400 meters at the World Indoor Championships in Scotland with a world-record time of 49.24 seconds.
In addition to her competitive achievements, McLaughlin-Levrone balances a demanding schedule of training and personal pursuits. She has been training with legendary coach Bobby Kersee in Los Angeles since 2020. Kersee, renowned for coaching Florence Griffith Joyner to unprecedented levels of speed, has also guided top athletes such as Allyson Felix and Athing Mu.
A typical training day for McLaughlin-Levrone involves spending several hours on the track performing whatever workout Kersee has planned, followed by a balanced lunch and a session in the weight room. She prioritizes recovery activities like ice baths or massages to ensure she is fully recuperated for the next day’s training.
Outside of her athletic commitments, McLaughlin-Levrone enjoys creative endeavors such as her New Balance clothing line. “I’m grateful to New Balance for allowing me to express myself—it’s been really fun to create this line and focus on sharing my style, which is made up of a neutral palette and the idea that ‘comfortable’ comes first,” she said. “New Balance is like a family to me, and it’s great being able to take on these projects and journeys with them.”
As McLaughlin-Levrone continues to prepare for the 2024 Paris Olympics, she remains focused on maintaining her exceptional performance while also embracing her various personal and professional pursuits.
