"I couldn't wait to tell people what God had done"- When Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone opened up about defeating her greatest rival

In her book 'Far Beyond Gold: Running From Fear to Faith', Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone recalled the time when she defeated her greatest rival Dalilah Muhammad. Known for her religious faith, the Olympic champion credited God for the dominating victory.

The American 400m hurdles athlete turned an author on 30 January 2024, after she released her book, where she uncovered her personal experiences, struggles, and victories. From starting her career as a seven-year-old to becoming one of the most renowned athletes, McLaughlin-Levrone shared it all.

In her book, McLaughlin-Levrone revisited the time she trounced her arch-rival Dalilah during the 2021 US Olympic trials. She narrated the entire scenario where she was in lane six and Muhammad was standing in the seventh lane and stated that there was no room for fear because she trusted 'god's plan'. She further explained the entire race, which concluded with her win.

"The eight finalists were called to the starting blocks. I was in lane six. Dalilah, my greatest rival, was in lane seven. For the first time at the starting line, I felt free to trust in God’s plan. There was no room for fear," said Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone.

"We got off to a fast start, Dalilah in the lead. I was in rhythm. When I reached the eighth hurdle, I had that feeling, that indescribable joy. Dali­lah was one step ahead. By the time we cleared the last hurdle, I was in the lead. I summoned every ounce of energy I had and sprinted to the finish line. I saw the clock stop at 51.90. I’d just broken the 52-second barrier for the first time in history."

McLaughlin-Levrone further added about crediting this victory to God and said:

"I couldn’t wait to tell people what God had done. He’d carried me around the track —for his glory, not my own."

Following this win, the 25-year-old won the Tokyo Olympics final, again besting Dalilah Muhammad. She clocked a world record of 51.46s in the 400m hurdles, proving her prowess as a formidable athlete. Now, four years later, the American showcased the same dominance during the Paris Olympics.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone opened up about surpassing the world record at the Paris Olympics

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone notably defended her title by recording a world record of 50.37s in the 400m hurdles event at the Paris Olympics. She trounced Anna Cockrell and Femke Bol, who claimed second and third place.

Following this, McLaughlin-Levrone reflected on her victorious performance in an interview with Olympics.com, where she said that she felt blessed after attaining this win.

"It hasn't really fully hit me yet. Blessed, honestly. And excited. It's a surreal moment. But now an amazing, amazing opportunity. And I'm grateful," she said.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone also spoke about her mid-race thoughts:

"You never really know what's going on. It's really just running all the way through the line. I did get a quick glance at the clock, so I was like, 'Just get over this last hurdle and sprint through the line."

The 25-year-old further added:

"I treat every meet like its own. So, this was my first time in Paris racing for this Olympic gold. I was just treating it like this was my first time here, and, trying to go for it the same way."

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has broken the world record six times in her career.