The Paris Olympics, which concluded on Aug. 11, were marked by controversy, memorable memes and, as always, incredible and inspiring feats of athletic prowess. Athlete Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone broke her sixth world record in the 400m hurdles to become the first woman to win back-to-back gold medals in that event. She also continued her track record of giving God all the glory for her success.
“I credit all that I do to God. He’s given me a gift, he’s given me a drive to just want to continue to improve upon myself, and I have a platform, and I want to use it to glorify him,” she said at the press conference following that gold medal win.
“And so whenever I step on the track, it’s always the prayer of, ‘God let me be the vessel in which you’re glorified, whatever the result is,’” McLaughlin-Levrone continued, saying that prayer relates to “how I conduct myself, how I carry myself, not just how I perform. And so, it’s just freedom in knowing that regardless of what happens, he’s going to get the praise through me, and…that’s why I do what I do.”
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Kept Telling Herself, ‘Trust in Jesus’
The 2024 Paris Olympics took place from July 26 to Aug. 11, and the upcoming 2024 Paralympic Games are set to take place in the City of Love from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8.
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Not only did Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone set records in the 400m hurdles but she also ran a stunning second leg in the women’s 4x400m relay, leaving the field behind and helping the team win gold for that event.
McLaughlin-Levrone competed at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and in Tokyo but said she considers Paris her “first real Olympics” because she medaled, which she didn’t do in Rio, and because her family got to attend and support her, which they didn’t get to do in Tokyo.
“It’s special to know that your people are here and to just have those moments that you can look back on when you’re done running…whatever the outcome is,” she said.
McLaughlin-Levrone has been outspoken about her Christian faith throughout her athletic career. In 2021, after she set a world record and won two gold medals in Tokyo, the star athlete shared on social media that she believes Jesus was using the criticism of others to test her faith.
“People reject truth,” she said. “I know they’re not rejecting me. They’re rejecting Jesus living in me…I want to glorify God, and I want to be a good example to people, but our world only accepts ignorance.” Several days later, McLaughlin-Levrone announced her engagement to former NFL player Andre Levrone Jr.
