Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone wins gold with world record run, credits God

After American Olympic track star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone claimed her third gold medal in record-setting fashion Thursday, the outspoken Christian once again turned the attention to God.

“I credit all that I do to God,” she said in her post-race press conference. “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.

“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 – how I conduct myself, how I carry myself, not just how I perform.’ So it’s just freedom in knowing that regardless of what happens He’s going to get the praise through me. That’s why I do what I do.”

In her victory, McLaughlin-Levrone set the world record for the sixth time in her career for the 400-meter hurdles, beating the next fastest competitor by more than a second. Her record run of 50.37 seconds earned her a third career Olympic gold medal just one day after turning 25.

The Olympic legend broke her previous world record time of 50.65 seconds, set just two months ago at the Olympic trials. 

McLaughlin-Levrone has consistently emphasized her Christian faith over the course of her career.  

Her Instagram bio simply reads, “Jesus is Lord,” while her bio on X says, “Resting in Jesus’s grace.” 

After her last Olympics in Tokyo she took to social media to make clear how much more valuable her faith is than anything else. 

“Let me start off by saying, what an honor it is to be able to represent not only my country, but also the kingdom of God,” she posted to Instagram. “What I have in Christ is far greater than what I have or don’t have in life.  

“I pray my journey may be a clear depiction of submission and obedience to God. Even when it doesn’t make sense, even when it doesn’t seem possible. He will make a way out of no way. Not for my own gratification, but for His glory.” 

The track star even released a book on the subject in January, Far Beyond Gold: Running From Fear to Faith. The book explains how God disrupted perfectionism and people-pleasing in her life by breaking into her story with His “overwhelming grace, transforming love, and empowering truth.” 

“In a sport where you’re literally chasing gold all the time, I would take my love for Christ and that relationship over a gold medal any day,” she told Sports Spectrum.