McLaughlin-Levrone has opened up on the devastating loss that changed her life forever and made her initiate an intimate relationship with God.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is widely celebrated for her dominance in the 400-metre hurdles, with six world records and an Olympic title to her name by the age of 25.
Yet, beneath the accolades lies a deeply personal journey of faith that began with a crushing defeat at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar.
McLaughlin-Levrone finished second in the 400-metre hurdles final, clocking an impressive 52.23 seconds, but it wasn’t enough to outpace Dalilah Muhammad, who set a new world record in the race. Despite McLaughlin’s consistency that season, with victories at Diamond League meets in Oslo, Monaco, and Zurich, that loss hit her hard.
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McLaughlin-Levrone, who cemented her status as the greatest 400m hurdler of all time, has revealed she is not afraid to lose brand deals for being vocal about her faith
“That race devastated me,” McLaughlin-Levrone confessed in an interview with CBN Sports.
It was a moment that, unbeknownst to her at the time, would set the foundation for a transformative journey of faith and self-discovery.
Reflecting on the defeat, McLaughlin-Levrone admitted that it forced her to confront fears and anxieties she had long carried.
“I remember thinking, ‘I need to figure out how to deal with this fear because I cannot keep living like this.’ Being able to make it all the way there on the world stage and still come up short was just devastating for me,” she said.
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Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone required a third date to know that Andre Levrone was chasing him.
The turning point came during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period of forced pause that gave McLaughlin-Levrone the space to seek answers. “God, I need you,” she recalled praying. “There is no way I will heal from all this unless it is with you.”
During this time, she began reading the Bible more intentionally, and one passage stood out: Colossians 3.
“It really flipped the switch for me in terms of my thinking and how I saw everything,” she explained. “The gospel finally made sense. I realised that in and of myself, I had nothing to offer God. It’s just the righteousness of Jesus covering my life based on my faith that makes me presentable before Him.”
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McLaughlin-Levrone’s faith journey not only helped her overcome the fear and anxiety that had plagued her but also reframed her approach to life and sport. “The lens upon which I viewed life had not fully switched until then,” she said. Her newfound reliance on faith became a cornerstone of her success, culminating in her record-breaking performances and consistent dominance on the track.
Even before the disappointment in Doha, McLaughlin-Levrone faced significant challenges. As a 16-year-old, she became the youngest athlete to make the USA Track and Field Olympic team since 1980, qualifying for the 400-metre hurdles at the Rio Games. However, she failed to advance beyond the semi-finals, finishing fifth in her heat.
The criticism she received following her Olympic debut left a lasting impression. “I remember receiving messages on Instagram from people stating, ‘You made it all this far only not to get a medal?’” she shared. Those words fuelled her determination but also added to the pressure she placed on herself.
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Now, McLaughlin-Levrone stands as a testament to the power of resilience and faith. Her journey from heartbreak in Doha to becoming one of the greatest 400-metre hurdlers in history is a story of finding strength in vulnerability.
“I can’t keep living in fear,” she resolved.
