Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

Sports Career of Sydney-McLaughlin-Levrone | Sydney-McLaughlin-Levrone Biography

Sydney-McLaughlin-Levrone (neé: Sydney-McLaughlin) is a four-time Olympic gold medalist who primarily ran the 400-meter hurdles until 2025. In 2025, she switched her primary event to the flat 400-meter.

Her earliest result on her World Athletics page is a 39.16-second time for the indoor 300 meters when she was 14. She showed enormous early promise in many sprinting events and the long jump. In 2014, she won the national U20 title in the 400-meter hurdles despite only being 15.

The next year, she went on to compete for Team USA at the World Youth Championships in Colombia. She won the 400-meter hurdles by almost a second with a time of 55.94 seconds.

McLaughlin-Levrone qualified for her first Olympic Games in 2016 after finishing third at the Olympic trials in the 400-meter hurdles. She ran 56.22 seconds in Rio de Janeiro, a few days after her 17th birthday, to finish fifth in the semi-final.

McLaughlin-Levrone continued to improve through 2017, running 53.82 at the United States Olympic Championships. The next year, she joined the University of Kentucky and went on to win the 400-meter event at the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships and the 400-meter hurdles at the outdoor championships. Her time of 50.36 seconds at the indoor championships would be a new World Junior record. Her 400-meter hurdle time was a new NCAA record.

McLaughlin-Levrone only competed in the NCAA for one year before turning professional. She entered her first Diamond League event on May 11, 2019, running 50.78 seconds in the 400-meter in Shanghai to finish second. She also won the Oslo Bislett Games in the 400-meter hurdles in June and the Herculis meeting in Monaco later that summer.

At the World Championships in Doha, she finished second in the 400-meter hurdles behind the world record holder at the time, Dalilah Muhammad, despite running a personal best of 52.23 seconds. Muhammad’s time of 52.16 seconds would break her own record. 

After the Pandemic

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone didn’t race at all in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the delay of the Olympic Games. Upon her return in 2021, she ran 51.90 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles to win the USA Olympic Trials and qualify for her second Olympics. It was also her first time breaking the world record.

McLaughlin-Levrone ran a personal best in the Olympic Final of 51.46 seconds, beating Muhammad and her biggest rival over the next several years, Femke Bol.

The World Championships held in Oregon were McLaughlin-Levrone’s main focus for 2022. She ran 50.68 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles final, taking home gold and setting a new World Record.

Her 2023 season started well. In July, she ran a world-leading time of 48.74 seconds in the 400 meters at the USA Championships, but she would have to pull out of the World Championships. Her rival Bol, won the championships.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone returned to top form in 2024, breaking her own World Record in the 400-meter hurdles at the Olympic Trials with a time of 50.65 seconds. 

The 2024 Olympics were largely seen as a showdown between her and Femke Bol. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone had won both of their previous head-to-head races.

In the Olympic final, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone pulled away early. Bol tried to match her pace but would hit the wall on the backstretch, slipping to third as the American Anna Cockrell moved into second. McLaughlin-Levrone’s time of 50.37 seconds once again broke the world record.

In 2025, McLaughlin-Levrone decided to switch her focus from the 400-meter hurdles to the flat 400-meter. The plan paid off, and at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, she went on to win the event and run the second-fastest time of all-time, 47.78 seconds.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Personal Life and Other Facts

McLaughlin-Levrone was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and grew up in Dunellen, New Jersey. She attended the University of Kentucky but only competed on their team for one year before turning pro.

Her father, Willie McLaughlin, was a track star himself. He’s a member of the Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame and a three-time all-American. He reached the semi-final at the 1984 Olympic Trials. Her mother, Mary, ran a 2:12 half mile (800-meter) in high school.

McLaughlin-Levrone has three siblings who have also competed in track. Her oldest sister, Morgan, ran the 100-meter hurdles, long jumped, and ran the 200-meter for St. Peter’s University. Her older brother, Taylor McLaughlin, competed in the sprints and hurdles and the University of Michigan, running 48.85 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles. Her youngest brother, Ryan, ran the hurdles and 4x400m relay in high school.

McLaughlin-Levrone got engaged to former NFL player Andre Levrone Jr. in 2021. When they got married in 2022, she hyphenated her last name.

McLaughlin-Levrone lives in Los Angeles and is Christian. She is involved in the Christian community in the Los Angeles area.

She was voted World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year in 2022 and again in 2025. In 2024, she released the autobiography “Far Beyond Gold: Running From Fear to Faith.”

Sydney-McLaughlin-Levrone rarely competes in Europe. Her coach, Bobby Kersee, said in a 2024 interview with Citius Mag:

“First, it’s based on health. Then, it’s just based on performance and what’s needed. With all due respect to Europe, I like America. I like to race at home as much as possible.”

Despite McLaughlin-Levrone and Femke Bol being the two fastest women of all time in the 400-meter hurdles, they’ve only raced three times. McLaughlin-Levrone has won all three meetings at the 2020 Olympics, 2024 Olympics, and 2022 World Championships.

After the collapse and bankruptcy of the Grand Slam Track league spearheaded by Michael Johnson in 2025, McLaughlin-Levrone was the athlete with the most outstanding prize and appearance fee money. At the time of bankruptcy, she was still owed $356,250.00. Gabby Thoma and Kenny Bednerek were also both owed more than $225,000.

FAQs | Sydney-Mclaughlin-Levrone

Who Is Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s Coach?

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is currently coached by Bob Kersee. She’s previously worked with Mike McCabe, Edrick Floréal, and Joanna Hayes.

How Old is Sydney McLaughlin-Levron?

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone was born on August 7, 1999, making her 26 years old.

How Tall is Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone?

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is about 5’9” or about 175 centimeters tall.

How Many Olympic Medals Does McLaughlin-Levrone have? | Sydney-McLaughlin Medals

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has won four Olympic gold medals. She also has five gold medals from the world championships and a silver medal from the world championships

Where is Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone from?

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone grew up in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Who is Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s Husband?

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is married to Andre Levrone Jr., a former NFL wide receiver who was in the Carolina Panthers organization but didn’t appear in a game.

Who is Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s Sponsor?

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has signed a contract with New Balance.

What is Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s Ethnicity?

Both Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s parents are from the United States. Her dad is African-American, and her mother is Caucasian.

Why Doesn’t Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Run the 400m?

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone switched her primary event to the flat 400m in 2025. She won the World Championships in the event and has run the second fastest time of all time.