Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone apologizes to mother for not finishing her degree at University of Kentucky after being inducted into Hall of Fame

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone apologized to her mother, Mary Mclaughlin, for only attending one year of her degree at the University of Kentucky. McLaughlin-Levrone turned pro after a record-breaking season with the Kentucky Wildcats in 2017. Recently, after her successful and record-breaking season, which included the 2024 Summer Games, the 25-year-old was inducted into the University's Hall of Fame.

McLaughlin-Levrone hails from an athletic family and was inclined towards sports from a young age. She attended Union Catholic Regional High School and was named the Player of the Year twice in track and field. After graduating from high school in 2017, she joined the University of Kentucky, where she spent a year before turning pro in 2018.

Six years after turning pro, McLaughlin-Levrone has become the greatest female 400m hurdler of all time, having broken and improved the world record multiple times in the event. The 25-year-old won two gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She was inducted into the University of Kentucky's Hall of Fame alongside Puerto Rican 100m hurdler Jasmine Qamacho-Quinn.

During her speech, Sydney Mclaughlin-Levrone reflected on her time at Kentucky, saying she had learned more than she could have imagined. The 25-year-old also had a message for her mother. She said,

“I would not be the woman I am, had I not attended UK. Though with only one year under my belt, I do not have a degree. Sorry, Mom. I learned more than I could have imagined,” she said (1:20)

She added:

“My year here was hard, I’m not gonna act like it wasn’t, as it is for many college athletes all over the country, but I wouldn’t change it for the world, honestly.”

The four-time Olympic gold medalist set several records during her time with the Kentucky Wildcats, the most notable of which is the 400m hurdles collegiate record of 52.75s. She won the NCAA and SEC titles in the 400m hurdles during the 2018 season before deciding to turn pro.

---

When Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's father said she was special from the start

Wanda Diamond League 2024 Final - Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone in the women's invitational 200m - Source: Getty

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone started running at the age of six, and her parents have said that she was special and different from her siblings, who were also gifted athletically.

Her father Willie McLaughlin told NJ.com in 2016,

“We had had our older daughter and our older son run, and they were very gifted. Then we saw (Sydney) run at 6 years old, and we just knew, okay, the other ones are very good but this one is a little different. It was just obvious.”

He was speaking before the start of the Rio Games. Sydney participated in the 2016 Olympics aged just 16, the youngest track and field US athlete to qualify for the Olympics since 1980. Speaking about her first Games, the athlete said at the time,

"I think (the goal is) to just go run fast, to go through the rounds just like at the trials, and if I make it to the finals, see what happens."

It did turn out exactly like her parents had thought, eventually. Though she was eliminated in the semifinal at Rio 2016, McLaughlin-Levrone has been undefeated since running in world record time for the first time at the 2021 U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials.