Two-time Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone added to her legendary status during a stunning U.S. Olympic trials finals Sunday in Eugene, Ore., setting another world record in the 400-meter hurdles and beating the second-place runner by two seconds to once again qualify for the Summer Games.
McLaughlin-Levrone, 24, crushed the competition with a new world record time of 50.65 seconds, nearly two full seconds ahead of second-place finisher Anna Cockrell and 2.12 seconds ahead of third-place Jasmine Jones—all three qualified for the Paris Olympics.
McLaughlin-Levrone appeared shocked when she crossed the finish line.
“Praise God,” she told NBC during a nationally televised interview. “I was not expecting that, but He can do anything. Anything is possible in Christ. So yeah -- I’m just amazed, baffled, and shocked.”
It’s not the first time McLaughlin-Levrone has amazed the track community. In fact, it was her fifth world record in an event she won at the Tokyo Olympics. (Her other gold came in the 400-meter relay in Tokyo.)
Incredibly, her time was faster than four of the runners in the women’s 400-meter flat final -- in other words, faster than four runners who didn’t have obstacles in their way.
McLaughlin-Levrone told media members in a non-televised interview that she hopes to run a sub-50 second 400-meter hurdle one day.
“I would love to dip under 50 at some point,” she said.
When asked what her immediate reaction was when she crossed the line, she answered, “Thank you, God, for delivering me through the race.”
“Praise God.”
— Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) July 1, 2024
Our Sports Spectrum magazine cover girl @GoSydGo gave glory to the Lord after breaking another record on her way to the #ParisOlympics. pic.twitter.com/Kx64is7EXp
McLaughlin-Levrone is known for her devout Christian faith. She is the author of the book Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith, in which she discusses her life, career, and faith. Earlier this year, she spoke with the Sports Spectrum Podcast about her beliefs. She and her husband, Andre, serve at a Bible study at UCLA during the offseason.
“I hope that it piques peoples’ interest in wanting to know more about Jesus,” she said of the book.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Patrick Smith/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.