Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

Quick Facts

• Specialty: 400-meter hurdles and 400-meter sprint

Biographical Information

Sydney McLaughlin is an American gold-medalist hurdler and sprinter. Born into a long time of track and field stars, McLaughlin took up running at an early age, following in the footsteps of her older brother and sister. She graduated from Union Catholic Regional High School in 2017, where she was the first two-time Track and Field Gatorade Player of the Year. Following her high school career, McLaughlin attended and ran Division 1 Track and Field at the University of Kentucky. 

In addition to being a track and field prodigy, McLaughlin is a published author, and recently published her first book, Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith, which details her struggles with mental health and self-image in the athletic world. 

Olympic Highlights

At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, McLaughlin secured two gold medals and dominated the 400m hurdles. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in the 4x400m relay, contributing to Team USA's triumph.

In the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, McLaughlin earned another two gold medals and broke the world record in the 400m hurdles with a time of 50.37 seconds.

World Championship Highlights

At the 2019 IAAF World Athletic Championships, McLaughlin earned a silver medal in the 400-m hurdles event. She went on to win gold in the 4x400m relay as well.At the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, she set a clock record of 50.68 seconds in the 400m hurdles.

U.S. Championship Highlights

In the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships of 2018, McLaughlin broke the world junior record in the 400m hurdles. In June of 2022 at the USATF Championships, she clocked a time of 51.41 seconds in the 400m hurdles. She broke her own record once again at the 2023 USATF New York GP with a time of 49.51 seconds. At the 2023 USATF Championships in Eugene, Oregon, McLaughlin completed the 400m hurdle at a time of 48.74.

Early Career

In 2014, as a high school freshman, McLaughlin set a national record and earned the title of the world's age-14 best. However, her age prevented her from qualifying for the 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships, but she set a world record in her age group in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.34 seconds. She later pursued the age-15 world best clock speed in the 400m hurdles.

In 2016, McLaughlin competed at the New Balance National Outdoor High School Championships, breaking two records and winning the 400m hurdle event. At the USATF Junior Championships that same year, she took first place again.

During the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track and Field, McLaughlin set the world youth best and world junior record in the 400m hurdles. In the 2017 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, she broke the indoor distance medley relay world record. At the 2017 Arcadia Invitational, McLaughlin broke the national high school record in the 300-meter hurdles.

During her time at the University of Kentucky, she set a new world junior record at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships in the 400 meters with a time of 50.36 seconds. In her debut at the SEC Championships, McLaughlin also broke the collegiate record in the 400-meter hurdles, clocking in at 52.75 seconds to win the event.

Olympic Experience

• 3-time Olympian; 4-time Olympic medalist (4 gold)
  • Olympic Games Paris 2024, gold (4 x 400m Relay - Women, 400m Hurdles - Women)
  • Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, gold (4 x 400m Relay - Women, 400m Hurdles - Women)
  • Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016, 17th (400m Hurdles - Women)

World Championships Experience

• Most recent: 2022 – gold (4 x 400m Relay - Women, 400m Hurdles - Women)
• Years of participation: 4 x 400m Relay - Women 2019, 2022; 400m Hurdles - Women 2019, 2022
• Medals: 4 (3 gold, 1 silver)
  • Gold – 2022 (4 x 400m Relay - Women, 400m Hurdles - Women); 2019 (4 x 400m Relay - Women)
  • Silver – 2019 (400m Hurdles - Women)