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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has hailed the impact of her father Willie for shaping her into becoming the dominating athlete she now is.
At just 25, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has etched her name into track and field history, shattering records and redefining greatness in the 400m hurdles. While the influence of her esteemed coach Bob Kersee is undeniable, McLaughlin-Levrone hails her father as the cornerstone of her athletic foundation.
In her memoir Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith, the reigning Olympic champion shares heartfelt insights about her father Willie's formative role in her journey to becoming a dominating force on the track.
“My dad was my first and only coach until middle school,” McLaughlin-Levrone wrote. “He was far from the intense, obsessive, critical type. He was the opposite. Soft-spoken. Encouraging. He never pushed me. If I had to use one word to describe his coaching philosophy, it would be simple. He never complicated the sport. His only strategy was for me to run faster than everyone else.”
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17:00 - 25.11.2024
How 'turmoil' forced Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone to quit social media at 16
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone opened up about when she deleted her social media accounts before making her Olympic debut at the age of 16.
Her father’s approach reflected an inspiring blend of simplicity and encouragement. His coaching mantra drew from Muhammad Ali’s famous phrase, "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee," which he interpreted for young Sydney as a call for "quickness, lightness, freedom, and joy."
Sydney’s mother also recognized her prodigious talent early on, recalling, “We had had our older daughter and our older son run, and they were very gifted. Then we saw Sydney run at 6 years old, and we just knew, okay, the other ones are very good but this one is a little different. It was just obvious.”
McLaughlin-Levrone’s career achievements are staggering. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she set a jaw-dropping world record in the 400m hurdles, clocking 50.37 seconds to claim gold ahead of Anna Cockrell and Femke Bol. She also anchored Team USA to victory in the 4x400m relay, further solidifying her legacy as one of the greatest athletes in track and field history.
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14:45 - 27.11.2024
'You are stuck with me for four years' - Noah Lyles hits back at Kishane Thompson & Fred Kerley after clinching Olympic 100m title
Weeks after both Fred Kerley and Kishane Thompson revealed what cost then gold at the Olympic 100 meter final, Noah Lyles has now bragged over his narrowly-won title, aiming a jibe back at the duo.
Her Olympic success is complemented by an equally impressive World Championships record. She has secured three gold medals and a silver, including dominant performances at the 2022 Eugene Worlds, where she reigned supreme in both the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s ability to excel at the highest level has inspired countless aspiring athletes. Her humility and dedication are matched only by her drive to constantly push boundaries, a quality she attributes to the solid foundation her father provided during her formative years.
“Track was never a fight in my house. It was as much a part of my family as dinner and church,” McLaughlin-Levrone reflected. This familial harmony and her father’s simple, focused guidance laid the groundwork for her remarkable success, proving that sometimes, the simplest strategies yield the most extraordinary results.
With her historic achievements and an enduring legacy, McLaughlin-Levrone continues to be a beacon of excellence, reminding the world that greatness begins at home.
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16:40 - 27.11.2024
Can internet sensation iShowSpeed actually beat Noah Lyles in an 100-meter dash ? 3D simulation shows how a race between the two would go
Noah Lyles narrowly beat internet sensation iShowSpeed in a recent friendly 50-meter dash that has since gone viral, but a 3D simulation has now revealed who would run faster over 100 meters.
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