SYDNEY McLAUGHLIN
United States Hurdler
The gold medalist shattered the world record twice this summer—the latest in a growing list of incredible feats.
THOUGH SHE WAS just 21 years old when she stepped onto the track at the U.S. Olympic Trials in July, Sydney McLaughlin had already accomplished plenty. She had been on the 2016 team in the 400-meter hurdles, making her the youngest U.S. track Olympian in 36 years. She had been on the cover of Sports Illustrated in high school. She had signed a seven-figure professional contract after one year of college.
So how do you add to those accomplishments? By becoming the first woman to break the 52-second barrier, which McLaughlin did in the trials, beating the world champ, Dalilah Muhammad, in 51.90 seconds. Then in Tokyo, McLaughlin won the rematch in 51.46, nearly half a second faster than her own world record.
While McLaughlin made it look easy, it wasn’t. After she returned from the 2016 Games, where she didn’t make the finals, she experienced what she termed a “post-Olympic depression.” Jealous girls from her high school bullied her to the point that she didn’t want to run anymore. But she persevered, not only improving as a hurdler but becoming an anti-bullying advocate. McLaughlin also dealt with her father’s heart disease, which required him to get a transplant earlier this year. (He’s doing fine now.)
“I made the mistake in 2016 of letting the atmosphere get to me,” McLaughlin said. “But this time I stayed in my bubble and did the same things I had been.”
She also overtook Muhammad in what is a friendly rivalry. “There’s no bad blood,” Muhammad said. “It’s two athletes wanting to be their best and knowing that there’s another great girl who’s going to help you get there.”