"My faith is everything, it's who I am"- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone on her core beliefs after defending her title at the Paris Olympics

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone recently opened up about the importance of faith in her life. She recently defended her 400m hurdles Olympic title in Paris with a dominant and graceful victory.

The 25-year-old proved her dominance in the 400m hurdles event by trouncing one of her arch-rivals, Femke Bol, and setting a new world record at the 2024 Summer Games. She clocked a record of 50.37s and bested Anna Cockrell and Bol, who claimed second and third place, respectively.

Days after surpassing her own world record of 50.65s, which she had set during the 2024 US Olympic trials, the American hurdler opened up about the importance of faith in her life in an interview with Olympics.com. She credited her victory and luck to God and her faith belief.

She showcased gratitude towards God and expressed that it was because of him that she got the chance to run the race.

"I'm just grateful for my faith, and to God for guiding me through all of that and finding my identity in him and not in myself or in my performance," McLaughlin-Levorne said. "I think that's given me so much freedom to just run the race. He's called me to it. And I think that this is testimony of just how much growth has taken place in me, not by my own strength, but by Him."

She added:

"For me, it's not an everyday lifestyle... I would say it's just my life. You know? My faith is everything. It's who I am."

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

Days after the conclusion of the Paris Olympics, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone reflected on setting a world record in the 400m hurdles in the event. She stated that she was grateful for the opportunity and that winning gold was a 'surreal' moment for her (as quoted by Olympics.com).

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

She further spoke about how she felt while she was on the track and revealed that she was unaware of what was going on while she was racing, stating that she was focused on running.

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

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone broke the world record for the sixth time at the Paris Olympics and also became the first woman to successfully defend her Olympic title in the 400m hurdles.