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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Wins Olympic Gold and Credits God for Success

  • Michael Foust Crosswalk Headlines Contributor
  • Updated Aug 09, 2024
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Wins Olympic Gold and Credits God for Success

The American track star who dominated the 400-meter women’s hurdles Thursday en route to a gold medal and a world record says her Christian faith is the secret behind her success. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the United States quickly took the lead and coasted down the stretch to win her second straight Olympic gold, becoming the first woman ever to win the Olympics 400-meter race twice. She also won gold in Tokyo.

McLaughlin-Levrone set a world record of 50.37 seconds, shattering the previous record of 50.65 seconds, which she set this summer at the U.S. Olympic Trials. It is the sixth time she has broken the world record in the 400-meter hurdles, her premiere event. She also set a world record when she won a gold medal at the pandemic-delayed 2021 Summer Games. 

Asked by NBC’s Mike Tirico why she always performs her best on the big stage, McLaughlin-Levrone pointed to her faith. 

“Honestly, I think my faith is the biggest factor -- just trusting the Lord and trusting the plan He has for me,” she said. “It doesn’t always guarantee things are going to go amazing, but I just give all the honor and glory to Him every time I step on the track. I’m amazed at what He’s doing in my life.”

McLaughlin-Levrone opened up about her faith and life in her recent book, Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith.  

Her coach, she said, told her to treat the race as a practice, “not looking at what’s happening to the left and the right, but really focusing on my 10 hurdles.” 

“I really just wanted to execute. He told me, ‘Run this like I’m standing in the middle of the field, timing you through the 200 -- and so that’s what I did. And I felt that pattern; I felt all the practice from the whole season kind of come together today.”

She said it’s a “little terrifying” to round the last turn and not see anyone to her left or right.

“You don’t know how close anyone is,” she said. “... It’s a huge stadium with a lot of fans, so you don’t know if they’re cheering because somebody’s right on your heels or what. But it encourages you to want to run faster. Just run through the line and finish the race strong. That’s all you can do.”

It was her third gold medal, having also won a gold at the Tokyo 4x400-meter relay in addition to the 400 hurdles. 

McLaughlin-Levrone is scheduled to race one more time this weekend with the 4x400-meter relay team.

“Hopefully, we’ll try to add to the medal count yet again.” 

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Julian Finney/Staff

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.