"I viewed victories as value" - When Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone reflected on the time she dealt with self-doubt as a 16-year-old

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone once reflected on the time in her life when she believed her worth was solely dependent on her achievements on the track. As a 16-year-old, McLaughlin-Levrone believed her success on track was crucial to gaining love, respect, and validation from others.

The American hurdler and sprinter competed in her first Olympics at the Rio Games when she was 16, becoming the youngest athlete to make the American Olympic track since the boycotted 1980 Games. McLaughlin-Levrone clocked 56.32 seconds in the heat round of the 400m hurdles in Rio to earn a spot for the semifinal.

McLaughlin-Levrone had no drive to win in the semifinal round and slowed down, ending her 2016 Olympic quest. In her autobiography Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith published in January 2024, the three-time Olympian revealed dealing with emotional and identity struggles as she felt her self-esteem was directly tied to track achievements.

"As a 16-year-old, I’d convinced myself that my worth and value were intertwined with my performance on the track," she wrote. "It wasn’t enough just to be a runner; I had to be a winner. I viewed victories as value."

She added:

"Somewhere along the line, maybe as I became a teenager and started to wrestle with all the change, uncertainty, and drama that comes with that time of life, I convinced myself that I was put on this earth to win. And in order to receive love and respect from others, I had to finish first. If I didn’t, what good was I?"

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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone went on to win the 400m hurdles title at 2024 Paris Olympics after registering a world record for sixth time

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the United States during the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Photo via Getty Images

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone made her third appearance at the Olympic Games at the French capital.

She registered a world for the sixth time in the 400m hurdles to clinch a gold medal. McLaughlin-Levrone posted 50.37 seconds to surpass her fellow teammate Anna Cockrell and her fiercest rival Femke Bol, who listed 51.87 and 52.15 seconds, respectively.

With the victory, she also defended her title from the Tokyo Games, where she clocked 51.46 seconds, another world record that cemented her prospect as a legendary athlete. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's other world records came at the 2021 Olympic Trials, 2022 and 2023 USATF Championships, 2022 World Athletic Championships, and 2024 Olympic Trials.