Fresh off yet another Olympic triumph, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone recently shared a heartwarming encounter with six-year-old Alaya Armbrister, a two-time AAU Gold Medalist and two-time Speed Capital MVP. The meeting was a touching moment for both athletes, with Sydney offering Alaya valuable advice: “Run your race.” For McLaughlin-Levrone, this wasn’t just a passing statement, but rather a sentiment grounded in her own experiences.
“I was just like Alaya,” Sydney revealed during an episode of The Jennifer Hudson Show. “I always wanted to be a track athlete; I always aspired to go to the Olympics. So, this being my third Olympics and being able to break that record for the sixth time, it’s nothing short of God’s grace.” McLaughlin-Levrone’s connection to Alaya not only served as inspiration but also reaffirmed Sydney’s journey from a determined young athlete to an Olympic champion.
Alaya, eager to learn, asked Sydney about her strategy for running the 400m hurdles. In response, McLaughlin-Levrone shared some of her tactical wisdom: “You wanna get out that first 100 really hard and maintain down the backstretch… Then, when you get to 250, that’s when you really kick again. And in that last 50, when the lactic acid hits, you just keep that form.”
Sydney, who most recently broke her own world record at the 2024 Paris Olympics, clocking 50.37 seconds in the 400m hurdles, noticed something special in Alaya. “I saw you kept your form really good during the race. Keep those arms coming, right? It’s so inspiring, and it encourages me to want to continue to be better because I remember being that young.”
The encounter was more than a fan moment; it was a passing of the torch, a shared dream between a seasoned Olympian and a young girl just beginning her journey. “It motivates me to want to continue to push forward because I know that young, amazing athletes like her are watching me,” Sydney reflected.
As their conversation unfolded, McLaughlin-Levrone imparted more life lessons: “Just continue to run your race; everybody progresses differently… focus on your lane, focus on what’s ahead of you, and don’t compare your journey to anybody else’s.”
McLaughlin-Levrone’s own journey began later than Alaya’s. It wasn’t until 2014, during her high school years, that her ascent to track stardom truly started. Encouraged by her parents, Willie and Mary McLaughlin, she developed a love for the sport naturally. “I credit them so much… they wanted me to grow and develop, number one, my body, and number two, my love for the sport naturally,” Sydney shared.
Her patience and hard work paid off. In 2014, she placed second at the National Junior Championship and set a World Age Group Best in the 100m hurdles. By 2015, she claimed victory at the World Youth Championships, and by 2016, her track dominance had begun.
As Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone continues to inspire the next generation, young athletes like Alaya Armbrister are ready to follow in her footsteps, running their own race with wisdom from one of the fastest women in the world.
