‘Running from the front is a different feeling’- When Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone changed her race tactic to win major title
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone once shared how a crucial change in her race strategy helped her secure Olympic gold.
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone opened up about a crucial shift in her race strategy that led to her stunning gold medal victory at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The American hurdler, who has cemented her place as one of the greatest athletes in track and field history, spoke about how her approach to the 400m hurdles evolved, ultimately helping her dominate the competition on the world’s biggest stage.
McLaughlin-Levrone, who debuted as a 17-year-old at the 2016 Rio Olympics and finished fifth in the semifinals, came back four years later with a renewed mindset and a new race strategy.
Reflecting on the change in tactics during an interview with Olympics.com, she explained how her perspective shifted from just competing against other athletes to taking on the clock itself.
“Running from the front is definitely a different feeling than running from behind,” McLaughlin-Levrone shared.
“It can be very exciting or very scary, depending on how you want to view it. But it just takes a lot of focus and intentionality.”
The pressure of being in the lead, with no one to chase but the clock, required the 24-year-old to channel a new level of concentration in her races.
By the time she reached Tokyo, McLaughlin-Levrone had already learned how to turn that pressure into performance.
“Everyone is now chasing after you and you are chasing after the clock,” she added.
“When you’re in that mindset, it’s really just about focusing on what you’re there to execute, what you need to focus on—your race and your lane—because there is nobody to feed off of at that point.”
Her mental shift paid off as she stormed to her first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo, breaking the world record in the process.
Since then, McLaughlin-Levrone has continued to dominate the women’s 400m hurdles, smashing her own world record six times and adding a total of four Olympic gold medals to her name—two each from the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games.
Beyond her individual achievements, McLaughlin-Levrone has attributed much of her success to the strong relationships she has built with her husband, Andre Levrone, her coach Bobby Kersee, and the team that has supported her throughout her career.
She stressed the importance of the people around her in making both victories and losses more meaningful.
“I stand on the line as one person, but it truly is an army behind me,” McLaughlin-Levrone said.
“Whether it be Bobby training me to get to that point, my trainer Malachi helping me as well, or Andre encouraging me and supporting me, it’s a team effort. And those relationships make winning, losing that much more enjoyable.”
McLaughlin-Levrone’s journey to Olympic glory has been nothing short of remarkable.
From her humble beginnings as a teenage competitor at the Rio Olympics to her triumphant defense of the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay titles at the Paris 2024 Games, she has consistently pushed the boundaries of what’s possible on the track.
Her relentless pursuit of excellence, combined with the support of her team, has allowed her to achieve unparalleled success.
With four Olympic gold medals, four World Championship medals, and several Diamond League victories under her belt, McLaughlin-Levrone has become an inspiration to athletes worldwide.
