‘The victory was yours’ – When Flo-Jo’s sister-in-law helped Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone overcome her nerves
Before the Tokyo Olympics, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone faced unexpected challenges, from pandemic-related hurdles to intense competition yet a timely boost from Jackie Joyner-Kersee changed everything.
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has established herself as one of track and field’s most dynamic athletes, continuing to shatter world records in her stride.
Despite her undeniable talent and dominance in the 400m hurdles, McLaughlin-Levrone has openly shared that her journey has not been without hurdles—especially in moments of immense pressure on the world stage.
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At the 2022 World Championships, it was Jackie Joyner-Kersee, sister-in-law to track legend Florence Griffith-Joyner and an Olympic icon in her own right, who helped McLaughlin-Levrone channel her nerves into a record-breaking performance.
“She’s just an amazing talent; a generational talent, for sure,” fellow hurdler Dalilah Muhammad once said of McLaughlin-Levrone, who has continually impressed fans and competitors alike by repeatedly breaking her own world records.
But even a world-class athlete like McLaughlin-Levrone is not immune to pre-race jitters, especially as she prepared to face her biggest rivals, Dalilah Muhammad and Femke Bol, on one of the sport’s grandest stages.
In her book Far Beyond Gold, McLaughlin-Levrone revealed just how much pressure she felt leading up to the event.
Coming off victories at the Tokyo Olympics and the USATF Championships, she was under intense scrutiny to perform at her peak.
Yet, as the World Championships approached, nerves began to mount, and self-doubt crept in.
It was in this moment of anxiety that Jackie Joyner-Kersee stepped in, sharing words of encouragement that seemed to draw from the wisdom and legacy of Florence Griffith-Joyner herself.
Although McLaughlin-Levrone has not revealed the specifics of Joyner-Kersee’s advice, she made it clear that the guidance was pivotal.
Joyner-Kersee, married to McLaughlin-Levrone’s coach Bob Kersee, knew the kind of mental pressure Sydney faced on a world stage.
Her message was enough to pull McLaughlin-Levrone back into focus and give her the confidence she needed to face her competitors.
The family connection and the depth of experience Joyner-Kersee brought were invaluable, enabling McLaughlin-Levrone to regain her sense of calm and purpose.
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Her coach, Bob Kersee, also played a crucial role. On a call just before the championships, he offered reassurance that made her feel her victory was within reach.
“Bobby called and talked as if the race were already over and I’d accomplished my goals. All I had to do was go out on the track and do what we’d talked about over and over,” she recounted in her book.
McLaughlin-Levrone delivered a stunning performance, setting a new world record with a time of 50.68 seconds, securing the gold medal, and reaffirming her position as a dominant force in her sport.
In Tokyo her Olympic dreams had been at risk due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed the Games for a year, a period that took a heavy toll on her mental health.
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By the time she finally arrived in Tokyo, additional fears emerged when she had to quarantine after a teammate tested positive for the virus.
In her own words, McLaughlin-Levrone recalled how the fear of contracting COVID nearly overshadowed her Olympic ambitions.
“Each day, we endured multiple rounds of testing, knowing that if we got a positive, our Olympic dreams were over. I became hyperaware of my body. Am I showing any symptoms? Am I feeling tired, congested, or lightheaded?” she wrote.
Despite these challenges, McLaughlin-Levrone’s mental resilience and the support from her family and team enabled her to rise above the obstacles and shine in her sport.
