Olympic 400m hurdles champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has shared insights into advice from her husband, Andre Levrone, regarding her competitive mindset.
The four-time Olympic gold medalist revealed that Levrone encouraged her to ease up on competition in everyday activities, including household chores. She admitted that his perspective has helped her approach tasks with excellence rather than constantly seeking to outdo herself.
“Just in daily life, living with my husband, he’s like, ‘Not everything is a competition, not everything is a race.’ It doesn’t matter what we’re doing—I’m always trying to do it better,” McLaughlin-Levrone told Sportskeeda.
The three-time World Champion also reflected on how her drive to perform at her best fuels her competitive spirit. She acknowledged that understanding her strengths has been key to her success.
“As an athlete, sometimes if we don’t immediately grasp something—like golf, for example—I tend to avoid it because I’m not naturally good at it. That competitive side of me hesitates to try things where I might not excel,” she explained.
McLaughlin-Levrone had a standout 2024 season. In May, she triumphed in the 200m at the Los Angeles Grand Prix, defeating specialists like Gabby Thomas and Abby Steiner.
The following month at the New York Grand Prix, she clocked a world-leading time of 48.75 seconds in her first 400m race of the season—just 0.01 seconds shy of her personal best. Dominating from the 200m mark, she surged ahead to defeat Talitha Diggs by more than two seconds.
June also saw McLaughlin-Levrone sign with Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track League for the 2025 season, where she will compete in the long hurdles and 400m flat categories.
At the Paris Olympics, she solidified her legacy by breaking her own world record, finishing the 400m hurdles in 50.37 seconds to defend her Olympic title. She then secured another gold medal as part of the women’s 4x400m relay team.
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