Sydney Michelle McLaughlin-Levrone is a renowned American sprinter and hurdler. She competes in the 400 m hurdles, 400 m race and 4X400 m relay. She is the Women’s world 400 m hurdles record holder at 50.37 seconds set on 8 August 2024 in during the Paris Olympics. Furthermore, Sydney is the 400 m hurdles 2022 World champion and 2020 Tokyo Olympics champion. She is as well the 2019 Diamond League champion in 400 m hurdles.
She has also won gold medals in the 4X400 m relay at the 2019 and 2022 World Championships as well as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The exceptional hurdler is in the history books for breaking a number of records. McLaughlin-Levrone made history after breaking four 400 m hurdles records becoming the first track athlete to achieve the milestone. Additionally, she is the first female athlete to break the 52-second and 51-second barriers (in June 2021 and July 2022 respectively) in 400 m hurdles.
Additionally, Sydney is the 2022 World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year.
Besides athletics, Sydney is an author of an autographical book titled Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith launched on 30 January 2024 which is an account on her life experiences.
Age and Birthday
McLaughlin-Levrone came the the world on 7 August 1999 in New Brunswick, New Jersey in the United States. She is 25 years old at 2024.
Height
The world’s greatest hurdler is of average stature measuring approximately 175 cm (5 feet 9 inches).
Religion
Sydney is a Christian. Together with her family are part of the Los Angeles based Grace Community Church.
Eponymous
On 28 August 2021, McLaughlin-Levrone’s hometown Dunellen, New Jersey named the town’s Columbia Park track after her.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Husband
The star hurdler is married to a former American football player Andre Levrone Jr. (born 9 March 1995) since 5 May 2022. The couple had made public their engagement on 25 August 2021.
Andre currently works as a real estate advisor.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Family
Sydney’s parents are Mary Neumeister and Willie McLaughlin. She has three siblings; a older sister named Morgan (born 5 May 1994), older brother Taylor (born 3 August 1997) and a younger brother Ryan.
The McLaughlins are an athletic family. Willie is a Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame member and a three-time All-American. Moreover, he was a 1984 Olympic Trials semi-finalist in 400 m. On the other hand, Mary was a track athlete in high school and ran half-mile a then record time of 2:12.
The apple never falls far from the tree. Sydney and her siblings took after their parents and excelled in athletics.
- Morgan McLaughlin participated in 100 m hurdles, 200 m and long jump in high school. She as well competed in track events for St. Peter’s university.
- Taylor McLaughlin is a 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships silver medalist in 400 m hurdles. He was part of the 2016 U.S Olympic team together with his sister Sydney. He as well ran for University of Michigan.
- Ryan McLaughlin competed in track events for Union Catholic High School and was the fifth McLaughlin to win a New Jersey county track title.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Career
Youth career: 2014-2017
At the 2014 national junior championships, Sydney competed in the 400 m hurdles finishing a close second at 55.63 s. Consequently, she set a new world age-14 best and national high school freshman record. Subsequently, she set a another world age group best after stopping the clock at 13.34 seconds in 100 m hurdles later in the year.
In 2015, she bettered her 400 m hurdles best to 55.28 s setting a world age-15 best. At the World youth Championships held in Cali, Colombia, McLaughlin-Levrone clocked 55.94 s to win gold. She consummated the year as the world youth and junior leader.
At the 2016 New Balance national outdoor high school championships, Sydney won the 400 m hurdles in 54.46 s to set both a new world youth best and national junior record and later lowering it to 54.15 s at the U.S Olympic Trials. A week later, she won the USATF junior championship at a time of 54.54 s. Following her exceptional achievements, she was named the Gatorade National Girls Athlete of the Year. Sydney made history as the youngest American Olympic track and field athlete since 1980.
McLaughlin was part of an American quartet that broke the world record for the indoor distance medley relay in 10:40.31 on 28 January 2017. She again named the Gatorade National Female Athlete of the Year a second time becoming the first athlete to win the award more than once.
College Career:2017-2018
In November 2016, Sydney committed to attend University of Kentucky and presenting the university in track and field competitions. At the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships she set a world junior record in 400 m at a time of 50.36 s in March 2018. The not enough, in her Southeastern Conference championship debut, she broke a 400 m hurdles collegiate record in 52.75 s.
Professional Career: 2018-present
With just one year in Kentucky, McLaughlin gave up her college eligibility in order to compete at professional level in June 2018. In October that year, she signed a New Balance sponsorship contract.
400 m hurdles
In her maiden professional competition, at the 2019 World Athletics Championships, Sydney finished second in 52.23 s only 0.07 s behind fellow American Dalilah Muhammad. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics held in 2021, she ran in 51.46 s to win the gold medal and set new world record. She consequently made history as the first female athlete to break the 52-seconds barrier.
During the USATF Championships in Eugene in June 2022, she lowered her own world record to 51.41 s. In July 2022 at the World Championships, McLaughlin-Levrone broke her own record once again after finishing in 50.68 s to win the Championship title. Moreover, she became the first female athlete to break the 51-seconds barrier.
Sydney broke her own world record a third time on 30 June 2024, during the U.S Olympics Trials when she crossed the line in 50.65 s to qualify for the Paris Olympics. She reduced her own world record to 50.37 s to win gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Fellow American Anna Cockrell (51.87) and Dutch Femke Bol (52.15) claimed Silver and Bronze respectively.
4X400 m relay
Sydney is part of the United States’ teams that won gold medals in the 4X400 m relay at the 2019 and 2022 World Championships as well as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
400 m race
McLaughlin-Levrone debut professional feature in the event was on 9 June 2023 at the Paris Diamond League. She finished second behind Dominican Marileidy Paulino in 49.71 s. She improved to 49.51 s later in the month at the USATF New York Grand Prix.
At the USATF Championships in Eugene on 8 July 2023, Sydney attained a world lead of 48.74 s.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Achievements and Medals
Achievements
- Highest ranking: First (400 mH)
- Personal bests: 400 mH: 50.37 s World record (2024), 200 m: 22.07 s (2024), 400 m: 48.74 s (2023), 400 m: 50.36 s American Junior Record (2018),
Medals
Youth level
- World Youth Championships: Gold 400 mH (2015 Cali)
Senior level
- World Championships: Gold 400 mH (2022 Eugene), Silver 400 mH (2019 Doha), 2X Gold 4X400 m relay (2019 Doha and 2022 Eugene)
- Olympics: 2X Gold 400 mH (2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris) and Gold 4X400 m relay (2020 Tokyo)
- Diamond League: Champion 400 mH (2019)
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Net Worth
The American hurdling celebrity as an estimated net worth of $2 million at 2024.