"It didn't make sense...only thing running on mind was fear" - When Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone opened up about learning about father's heart transplant

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone once recalled that she was terrified after learning that her father had to undergo a heart transplant. However, the transplant turned out to be successful and her father was in the stands to cheer her during the world record run at the 2024 Paris Olympics last year.

Mclaughlin-Levrone was born to parents, Willie and Mary McLaughlin, who were also former runners. Willie had competed at the 1984 US Olympic Trials, finishing semifinalist in the 400m, before watching her daughter make the Olympic team in 2016.

The New Jersey native didn't win any medals on her debut, and ahead of her second appearance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she learned about the severity of her father's heart disease and was terrified when Willie informed her about the need for a heart transplant.

Recalling the moment in her 2024 memoir 'Far Beyond Gold: Running From Fear To Faith', she wrote:

"A new heart? Right now? It didn’t make sense. I remember my father calling me. I could tell in his voice things were off. He did his best to assure me that everything was going to be fine. He asked me to pray that he wouldn’t have to wait longer than his heart could afford for the transplant. None of it made sens,"

"As he talked, the only thing running through my mind was fear. His heart condition had always seemed so manageable. He’d never had any serious complications from it. He’d always been in good health, even up to a few weeks ago."

However, the transplant was successful and Mclaughlin-Levrone assembled her breath to break the 400m hurdles world record at the 2021 US Olympic Trials. She improved her record at the Tokyo Olympics and won two gold medals as well.

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"First full Olympic moment for me" - Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone on having her parents at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Olympic Games Paris 2024: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in action- Source: Getty

While Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone had her parents with her on her debut at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the American's campaign was marred by self-doubt and she deliberately lost her race in the semifinals. Then came the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and while she won two golds at the event, both the crowds and her family were absent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, everything aligned for the 25-year-old, and she later expressed joy in an interview with Olympics.com on having her 'first full Olympic moment' in the French capital.

"Oh my goodness, the crowd is amazing; it's so loud in there. The whole experience... just having friends and family here, getting to see their faces. ... I mean, this really feels like the first full Olympic moment for me," Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone said

The American shattered her 400m hurdles world record in 50.37s to win her second Olympic gold medal in the event before running the third fastest 4x400m leg in history for the fourth Olympic gold medal of her career.