Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone pens a note of gratitude for fitness coach as she showcases her Paris Olympics gold medal

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has had an incredible 2024. Despite struggling with an injury last year that forced her to miss the 2023 World Championships, the American was back in top fitness this season and recently penned a sweet note of gratitude to her fitness coach for his help in her journey.

For McLaughlin-Levrone, a hamstring injury kept her out of Budapest in 2023, and she had a late start to her Olympic year, only beginning to compete in late April. However, once she was back on the track, the 25-year-old quickly found her rhythm, going undefeated in her individual races despite competing in events other than her specialty, the 400m hurdles.

The first big moment of 2024 for McLaughlin-Levrone was her 400m hurdles finals at the U.S. Olympic Trials. The American crossed the finish line in 50.65 seconds, setting a new world record and becoming the first woman to dip under the 51-second mark.

She followed this up by further lowering the world record at the Paris Olympics, en route to her second 400m hurdles gold medal.

Recently, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s fitness coach, Hunter Cook, posed with the hurdler and her medals, sharing the photos on his Instagram story and writing,

“I didn't get a chance to see the medal itself in Paris. So I had to ask to see it here in LA. Thanks. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone for letting me hold your hard earned medal. And dang, it's heavy.

McLaughlin-Levrone reposted the story and expressed her gratitude, writing,

“Thank you for all you do.”

Via Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's Instagram

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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone reacts to her fitness coach’s praise

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone at the Paris Olympics - Source: Getty

For Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, her campaign at the Paris Olympics was nothing short of phenomenal. In the 400m hurdles, she successfully defended her title for Tokyo while lowering the world record to 50.37s. She then went on to compete for Team USA in the 4x400m relay and stormed to another gold medal in the event.

After the Games, McLaughlin-Levrone’s fitness coach, Hunter Cook, praised the hurdler and expressed his gratitude for being a part of her team, writing on Instagram,

“I don't think the word "grateful" will quite fill the need for describing how I feel after this week. But it will have to do for now. Ever grateful for being a part of #teamsyd and being able to support @sydneymclaughlin16 while she stuns the world, again, with a performance like no other. Ever grateful to witness history in person. Ever grateful to see what a human can do when they are pushing the limits of performance in every possible way.”

McLaughlin-Levrone responded by writing,

“I'm not crying…”

After the Paris Olympics, McLaughlin-Levrone went on to end her season on a victorious note at the Brussels Diamond League invitational races, winning the 200m and 400m events.