"Fear stole one of the great seasons of my life" - When Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone bemoaned about failing to enjoy her Olympic debut at Rio 2016

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone once regretted failing to enjoy her Olympic debut at the 2016 Rio Games. The American hurdler was only 16 years old and struggled with managing media expectations.

McLaughlin-Levrone had made a name for herself in the junior circuits and broke several age group records before lining up against athletes nearly double her age at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2016. She surprised many, clocking a world junior record of 54.15s to finish third in the 400m hurdles finals.

While she had become the youngest American track and field athlete to qualify for the Olympics, the New Jersey native didn't want to compete. She hadn't wanted to compete at the Trials as well before being convinced by her parents.

In her 2024 memoir, Far Beyond Gold: Running From Fear To Faith, McLaughlin-Levrone recalled 'dreading' the Rio Olympics.

"My family had sacrificed time, money, and energy. My parents had put my athletic career over their interests. They’d made this incredible opportunity possible. How could I tell them I was dreading it? The same was true of my coaches at Union Catholic High. I couldn’t let them down," she wrote

After reluctantly attending the Games, the 25-year-old barely enjoyed herself and returned home without a medal. Eight years later, in 2024, McLaughlin-Levrone claimed that fear of losing stole one of the greatest seasons of her life.

"As Rio approached, fear stole one of the great seasons of my life. The Olympics are meant to be a celebration of the human spirit. I don’t think there’s another event, with the possible exception of the World Cup, that has as much power to bring the world together. And it’s all for the joy of competition. Millions dream of it. I was about to experience it. Yet all I could think about was the very real possibility of losing," Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

The American had felt under such immense pressure that she deliberately lost her race in the semifinals in Rio, a decision she instantly regretted nonetheless.

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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone crowned 2024 Female Track Athlete of The Year

World Athletics Awards 2024 - Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone wins Female Track Athlete of The Year award (Source: Getty)

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone won the World Athletics Female Track Athlete of The Year for her 'absolute dominance' in the 2024 season. The American pipped St.Lucia's Julien Alfred for the award.

Alfred had won the 100m Olympic title and silver medal in the 200m at the Paris Olympics, becoming the country's first Olympic gold medalist. She also won the 100m Diamond League title at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, McLaughlin-Levrone took home two gold medals from the French capital in the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay. She also set the world record in the hurdles twice in the season and also ran and also ran the third-fastest 4x400m relay split in history, 47.71 seconds, at the Olympic Games.