Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone High School

Last Modified Jul 17, 2024 23:24 IST
Sydney Mclaughlin
Sydney Image Source: Instagram, @sydneymclaughlin16

Sydney Mclaughlin was born on August 7, 1999, in New Brunswick, New Jersey is an accomplished track and field athlete. She is an Olympic gold medalist, setting a world record in the 400m hurdles. Sydney won gold in the 400m hurdles and the 4×400m relay at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and has multiple World Championship titles. Coached by Bob Kersee, she has a personal best of 50.65 in the 400m hurdles. McLaughlin-Levrone is sponsored by New Balance and was a standout at the University of Kentucky. Her father, Willie McLaughlin, was a member of the Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame as a three-time All-American and a semi-finalist in the 400 meters at the 1984 Olympic Trials.

Her mother, Mary Neumeister McLaughlin, was a talented half-miler who ran on the boys' team at Cardinal O'Hara High School in Tonawanda, New York. Sydney's family relocated to Dunellen, New Jersey, where she took up running at an early age, following in the footsteps of her older siblings, Taylor and Morgan. Sydney started her journey in high school, attending Union Catholic Regional High School in Scotch Plains.

Also Read: Sydney Mclaughlin Ethnicity

High School

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone attended Union Catholic Regional High School in Scotch Plains. This is where her career began to bloom. Sydney had been engaged in swimming right from the time of high school.

YearAccomplishment
2014
  • Set a national high school freshman record and world age-14 best in the 400m hurdles with a time of 55.63s.
  • Set a world age group best of 13.34s in the 100m hurdles.
2015
  • Won gold in the 400m hurdles at the World Youth Championships with a time of 55.94s, becoming the world youth and junior leader in the event.
  • Set an age 15 world best of 55.28s in the 400m hurdles, ranking second on the all-time world youth list.
2016
  • Broke the high school and world youth best in the 400m hurdles with a time of 54.46s.
  • Qualified for the Rio Olympics, becoming the youngest American track and field athlete to compete at the Olympics since 1980.
2017
  • Broke the national 400m record with a time of 51.61s at the New Balance Nationals.
  • Named the Gatorade National Female Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year, becoming the first athlete to achieve this feat.
  • Set a national high school record in the 300m hurdles with a time of 38.90s, a North American record and #2 all-time worldwide.

Turning Pro

After her high school career, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone took her talents to the University of Kentucky. While her time as a college athlete was brief, she left an indelible mark on the sport.

In her freshman year at the 2018 NCAA Division I Championships, Sydney won the 400m hurdles with a time of 53.96s, cementing her status as one of the most promising young athletes in the world. Later that year, she announced her decision to turn professional, signing with New Balance.

Professional Dominance and Olympic Glory

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's transition to professional athletics was impressive, and her ascent to the top was meteoric. In 2019, she won silver in the 400m hurdles at the World Championships in Doha with a time of 52.23s, setting the stage for her Olympic debut in Tokyo.

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won a gold medal in the 400m hurdles with a world-record time of 51.46s. Not only did she shatter the previous world record, but she also became the first woman to run the event in under 52 seconds.

Her dominance continued in 2022, as she claimed the gold medal in the 400m hurdles at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, setting a new world record of 50.68s.

In 2023, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone did it again, undoubtedly becoming one of the greatest athletes of all time by breaking the world record in the 400m with a time of 48.74s at the USATF Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

YearCompetitionPositionEventTime (s)
2019World Championships2nd400m hurdles52.23
2021Olympic Games1st400m hurdles51.46 (WR)
2022World Championship 1st400m hurdles50.68 (WR)
2023USATF Championships1st400m48.74 (WL, MR)

Conclusion

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's journey from a high school athlete to an Olympic success, world record holder, and one of the greatest athletes of all time is nothing short of remarkable. Her achievements have inspired countless aspiring athletes.

Know More : Sydney McLaughlin family

FAQ's On Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone High School

 A. While McLaughlin-Levrone has the better 400m hurdles time currently, Bol's rapid progression sets up an eagerly awaited clash at the Paris Olympics.

A. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is the reigning Olympic and World champion in the 400m hurdles, having set a world record of 50.68 seconds.

A. Sydney McLaughlin made her Olympic debut at just 17 years old in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

 A. McLaughlin turned professional in 2018 after her freshman year at the University of Kentucky, signing with New Balance.

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