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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has opened up about the pivotal childhood moment that inspired her to take track seriously
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has become one of the most celebrated athletes in the world, dominating the 400m hurdles and shattering records along the way.
However, her journey to the top of the sport started at a young age, with a pivotal moment that set her on the path to greatness.
In a recent interview with Kate Mackz on the Running Interview Show, McLaughlin-Levrone opened up about the exact moment she knew track and field was her calling.
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08:33 - 10.10.2024
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Though she was involved in various sports growing up, it was watching a track event as an 8-year-old that made her realize she wanted to focus on running.
"I knew since I was like eight," McLaughlin-Levrone recalled.
"I remember watching and I was like, ‘Mom, I'm going to do that,’ and now here we are many years later."
Growing up in a sports-oriented family, McLaughlin-Levrone played soccer, basketball, and even danced for eight years before making the shift to track.
She shared how her natural athleticism and physical growth steered her toward longer distances and hurdles.
"I played soccer, I did basketball, and I danced for like eight years but track was just something that stuck with me," McLaughlin-Levrone explained.
"I actually started out doing the 100m and 200m, and they were like, ‘You’re growing up to be kind of tall, and you’ve got the long stride, so maybe we'll do the 400m.’ And I also love the hurdles, so they were like, ‘Let's just combine these two.’”
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Her decision to focus on the 400m hurdles has proven to be a wise one.
McLaughlin-Levrone not only won the gold medal in the event at the Tokyo Olympics but continued her winning streak to the next Olympic Games in Paris, where she successfully defended her title and broke the world record for the sixth time.
But despite her impressive achievements, McLaughlin-Levrone credits much of her success to the unwavering support of her parents. In an interview with JesusCalling.com, the athlete revealed how her parents encouraged her passion for running without placing undue pressure on her.
"I think my parents, I credit them so much for how they handled my young years. They didn’t want to overwhelm me with rigorous training at a young age," McLaughlin-Levrone said.
"They really wanted me to grow and develop, number one, my body, and number two, my love for the sport naturally. Not because they wanted to force me into anything, not because I had some coach who wanted me to go win Nationals."
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This patient and supportive approach allowed McLaughlin-Levrone to develop her love for track on her own terms, leading to her meteoric rise in the sport.
Today, she is widely regarded as one of the best runners in the world, with a career that shows no signs of slowing down.
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McLaughlin-Levrone wrapped up her 2024 season at the Brussels Diamond League where she participated in two invitational events, closing out yet another remarkable year of competition.
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