"Being home helped me grow in my faith" - When Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone opened up on how COVID-19 pandemic was instrumental in her spiritual 'growth'

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone once shared that isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic helped grow in faith. The same year, she lowered the 400m hurdles world record twice back-to-back at the 2021 US Olympic Trials and the Tokyo Olympics.

McLaughlin-Levrone concluded her Paris Olympic campaign with two golds in the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay, breaking the world record in the former event for the sixth time by clocking 50.37s. The 25-year-old broke her world record for the first time at the 2021 Olympic Trials, ousting the then-reigning champion Delilah Muhammad by clocking 51.90s. She repeated her feat at the 2021 Games and lowered her world record time to 51.46s.

Having achieved so much success in 2021, McLaughlin-Levrone felt that her life was defined by track for the longest time. But during the pandemic, isolation helped her reflect as she grew in faith, deepened her belief in God, and learned to look beyond her life on the track.

"Being home by myself helped me grow in my faith, which helped me get through the pandemic. And it helped me understand that my identity is not found in whether I win or lose a race, what place I get, or how much money I make. Track is not who I am, it’s what I do," said the 400m hurdler. (via L'Officiel in 2021)

Even after her 2024 Paris Olympic exploits, the 25-year-old credited God for her success as the first woman ever to win the 400m hurdles Olympic gold back-to-back.

"I credit all that I do to God. He's given me a gift. He's given me a drive to just want to continue to improve upon myself," she said. (via Christian Post)

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone became the first woman to break 52s and 51s in the 400m hurdles in 13 months (June 2021 to July 2022), breaking four world records in the process.

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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone became sure of her husband Andre Levrone when the latter asked for Bible study

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The couple met through a common friend from high school and started conversing through Instagram DMs. The Olympian and Andre Levrone started as friends but she became clear-sighted about her future when the latter invited her to do Bible study and introduced her to a group of people with similar values.

"He asked me to do Bible study with him and introduced me to a group of really great people who were encouraging and very mature. It was the first time I was in a relationship with a man who I felt could lead me in my faith to a place where I wanted to be," shared the four-time Olympic gold medalist. (via The Knot)

After her Paris Olympic exploits, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone took a trip to Greece with her husband to celebrate her success and belated birthday.