"It was as if I didn't want to win and I hit more hurdles than I cleared" - When Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone got baptized before breaking her first WR

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone got baptized before her impressive outing at the 2021 US Olympic Track and Field Trials. Her victory at the US Olympic Trials was a crucial victory for McLaughlin-Levron, as it opened the doors of the Tokyo Olympics to her, where she eventually clinched her first Olympic gold medal.

The United States hurdler has spoken often of her belief in Christian religious beliefs and ideals and some of this can be seen in her routine before a race. In 2021, McLaughlin-Levrone took a holy dip at the Dockweiler State Beach in Los Angeles to be baptized.

She later took to her official Instagram account to share this update with her fans and followers. The 400m hurdler shared a video of her holy dip in the sea and added a message reflecting her beliefs. She wrote,

"For twenty-one years I was running from the greatest gift I could ever receive. And by His grace, I have been saved. I no longer live, but Christ in me. My past has been made clean because of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."

She added in the second photo of her Instagram post:

"You had everything I needed, but it was almost as if, I didn't want to win. I wasn't running my own race. And I hit more hurdles than I cleared. I ended up running much further than I needed to."

Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone went through this baptism ceremony in November 2020, seven months before the US Track and Field trials, where she won the 400m hurdles finals, beating 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist Dalilah Muhammad.

During the event, McLaughlin-Levrone clocked 51.90s, breaking the then-world record of 52.42s, held by Muhammed.

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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone sheds light on thought process during Paris Olympics 400m hurdles final

McLaughlin-Levrone after her exhibition race at the Wanda Diamond League finals 2024 (Image via Getty)

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone recently opened up about the thoughts revolving around her head during the women's 400m hurdles final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This came just a few weeks after the conclusion of the Games in the French capital, a successful outing for McLaughlin-Levrone, with two Olympic gold medals.

In an interview with Olympics.com, the New Jersey native shared what was going on in her mind on her way to Olympic gold and a new world record. She said,

"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. It's just like we've practiced a million times."

At the Paris Games, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone became the first track and field athlete to clinch two consecutive Olympic golds in the women's 400m hurdles.