“You’re an Olympic champion!” - When Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone recalled her husband's words after severely impacted Tokyo Olympics victory

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone once reflected on her 2020 Tokyo Olympic victory celebration and the bittersweet emotions that followed, including her phone call with her husband, Andre. McLaughlin-Levrone secured her first Olympic medal at the 2020 Games in the 400m hurdles.

McLaughlin-Levrone registered a stunning 51.46 seconds to register a new world record and defeated her fellow teammate Dalilah Muhammad and Dutch hurdler Femke Bol, who clocked 51.58 and 52.03 seconds, respectively.

In her autobiography Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith, McLaughlin-Levrone reflected on the sweet and sour emotions she experienced following the race.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo Games were postponed to July 2021 and witnessed stringent protocols for the staff, spectators, and athletes as well. McLaughlin-Levrone conveyed in her book how she wanted to celebrate her career's most defining moment with her family, especially with her husband Andre Levrone.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone conveyed that despite the joy she felt from winning, she wished her family could have experienced it alongside her.

"All I wanted was to see my parents. Hug Andre," Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone wrote. "Watch him scream and jump with a smile that filled his whole face. But they weren’t there. As much as I cherish that day, I will always wish my loved ones could have been with me in person."

"After the media interview, she continued, " I called my parents. “'You made that one close, huh?' they said. I could almost hear the smiles on their faces. 'You’re an Olympic champion!' Andre screamed when I FaceTimed him. 'I’m so proud of you.'”

The following day, Sydney McLauglin-Levrone earned another gold medal in the 4x400m relay race along with the team.

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Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's husband Andre Levrone opens up on his emotions when watching the athlete compete in hurdles event

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and her husband Andre Levrone at the World Athletics Awards Ceremony in Monaco. (Photo via Getty Images)

Sydney McLauglin-Levrone's husband Andre Levrone recently highlighted the roller coaster of emotions he goes through while watching the athlete compete in the hurdle event.

In an interview with 'Life and Books and Everything, podcast last week, he described it as 'nerve-racking.

“It's nerve-racking, that's the word, especially with hurdles," he said. "You hit the nail right on the head. It's the hurdle aspect. Whenever she runs flat or open races, I'm just, ‘She's fine. I really am confident, she's gonna win’. But, at the same time, there's no barriers, there's no unanticipated circumstances that can really happen.”

Andre Levrone was present at the 2024 Games where McLauglin-Levrone defended her title after listing a world record of 50.37 seconds.