We Can't Believe Sydney McLaughlin Did This, Can You?

^{August 6, 2025 | Edition #166}

👋 Hey, Speedsters!

After a busy weekend in Eugene, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone finally stamped her ticket to the Tokyo Worlds. But that’s not all she will be celebrating this week. Tomorrow, on August 7, the hurdles queen turns 26! So, as we give her a birthday tribute, we are presenting her lesser known side. From deep struggles to her fun-loving personality and crazy talents, here’s everything that makes Sydney special!

🌟 Track Stories

Sydney’s Rise From Her Fear!

Whether it was her first Olympics title in Tokyo, or her World Record in Paris, we’ve never seen Sydney celebrate aggressively. That's just not her. She's always oh-so-calm, letting the moment sink in. But there was a time when she wasn't this composed!

Sydney was 7 when she first told her dad that she was terrified of losing races. Over the years, her fear piled up and first hit her at the 2016 U.S. Olympic trials. Lined up against elite hurdlers, Sydney panicked and called her dad, “Can I please pull out?” But it was too late. Her anxiety had taken over, causing Sydney to throw up in the bathroom.

Although Sydney came back and won her Rio Olympic ticket in 54.15s. Watch Sydney’s race that qualified her for the Rio Olympics at 16! But, the fear of losing had sunk deep into her. And it returned in the Rio semifinals, where she got beaten in the 400mH against Dalilah Muhammad, Ashley Spencer, and others. But that’s not the end….

Sydney’s most devastating bout of anxiety came three years later. In 2019, Dalilah had outpaced Sydney at the Nationals. Three months later, once again at the 2019 Doha Worlds, Dalilah’s gold-winning 52.16s was too fast for Sydney, who finished 0.07s behind. Sydney, who was convinced that she was put on this earth to win, broke down in the tunnel after her loss. But things changed in 2020!

Sydney turned to god and slowly began to detach her identity from her track performances. Over time, she also met her coach, Bobby Kersee, and her now-husband, Andre Levrone Jr. With these three pillars, she rose From Fear to Faith. And that literally, became the title of her 212-page memoir!

Light on Your Feet

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📈 Trending News

Sydney Is Just Too Talented!

What is Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone like off the track? We’ll try to paint you a picture today. While SML seems all serious and quiet when it’s race time, some mistake that for her personality. But in reality, she hardly has a dull moment....

For starters, Sydney has a truckload of talents. Did you know, she can juggle ridiculously well? Yep, from oranges to three full-sized basketballs, even gatorade bottles! And that's just level one. Level two is when she does all that while riding a unicycle. Crazy, right? Watch a snippet of Sydney’s insane juggling talent below!

Speaking of Sydney’s talents, add 'trick shots' to the list. Because this hurdles queen can also play some serious basketball! She can walk a slackline and throw the ball backward over her head, without even looking at the hoop! Some would say, that’s just sports. But even outside of it, she has multiple talents. Start counting: Singer, comedian, baker, soccer player, artist, and more! In an interview, she joked, “I am Beyonce!” and then broke into laughter. Clearly, she is good with humor too!

And well, for Sydney’s unique habits, one is carrying her 'Lucky Minions Blanket’ to every track meet. Also, there’s one more thing you’ll always find with her, and that’s her UNO deck. Yes, Sydney titles herself an “Uno Master.” Last but not least, add fashion designer to the list. In 2021, she teamed up with New Balance to design her own collection. So now you know, there's so much that she rarely shows on the camera!

Watch: Sydney’s Unbelievable Basketball Shots!

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 🏃‍♀️ Beyond The Medals

And She Loves Food!

Some might say world records are Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s all-time favorite food. After all, she has 6 of them in her bag! But in real life, Sydney’s diet has snacks you’d never expect from a four-time Olympic medalist.

Let's go back to the Brussels Diamond League, 2024. When Sydney entered the 200m and 400m invitational races, she was hyped about something completely different. “I’ve also heard about Belgian delicacies like waffles and chocolate.” Yep, she was dreaming of waffles and chocolates! And yes, her wish was granted, right after she stepped off the track, clocking 22.40s in the 200m and 49.11s in the 400m flat. Watch Sydney’s post-race reaction to warm Belgian delicacies! That’s how much she loves food.

And her go-to snack? Gummy Bears! She charges herself with these the night before every race. Sometimes, an entire pack! “They give me superpowers,” she laughs. So much so that she calls herself a “candy connoisseur.” Although as a professional athlete, she is trying to cut down, the truth is, if there’s candy in Sydney’s house, it’s not going to last more than 24 hours! And well, it doesn't stop here…

In 2016, Sydney confessed, “I’m the most unhealthy eater there is.” Same year, at the Rio Olympics, the McDonald’s became her go-to! But of course, as years passed, Sydney leveled up her nutrition game. Root vegetable rosti with carrots, onions, avocados, and eggs, keeps her fitness in check. But she still has comfort foods like buffalo chicken pizza on pita bread topped with peppers, spinach, and cream cheese. Healthy-ish? Maybe. Tasty? Absolutely!

Watch: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s Cooking Skills!

📊 POLL OF THE DAY

Last Poll Result: We asked you, “Which Was The Most Shocking Moment Of USATF Championships” and the results were close. However, with 44.83% votes, “Joe Kovacs & Quincy Wilson Out of US Team” was leading. Honestly, even we were surprised at them losing out a spot. Some of you even commented the most shocking was 16-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus’ spot on the Worlds team! Indeed, it was.

That’s it for today, folks! We’ll look to knock on your inbox soon with more interesting stories!

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