She’s one of America’s rising stars in track and field.
Sydney McLaughlin was born in Dunellen, New Jersey to a family of runners. Her father, Willie, was a semi-finalist in the 400-meters in the 1984 Olympic Trails. Her mother, Mary, was a high school runner. Sydney’s older brother, Taylor, won Silver in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships.
Courtesy: NJ.com
With a family like that, it’s no wonder that Sydney took up running at an early age. And she excelled.
At the National Junior Championships in 2014, she placed second behind Shamier Little in the 400-meter hurdles. Sydney’s time (55:6) set a national high school freshman record and a world record for her age (14).
The very next year, McLaughlin improved her 400-meter hurdles time (55:28). At age 15, she (again) set the mark for world’s best for that age and second-best all-time in youth hurdles (behind Leslie Maxie).
McLaughlin then qualified for the 2015 IAAF World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia, where she won Gold with a time of 55:94.
She finished that year (2015) as the world youth and junior leader in the event.
Then, in 2016, McLaughlin won her heat and semi-final in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2016 United States Olympic Trails.
Sydney was the youngest athlete to make the American Olympic Track and Field team since Carol Lewis and Denean Howard did it in 1980.
Later that year, she signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Kentucky, where she again excelled in track and field. In March of this year, McLaughlin set a world junior 400-meter record (55:36) while participating in the 2018 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships.
And just a few weeks ago (on May 13th to be specific), she broke the NCAA record in 400-meter hurdles (52:75) to win the event in her very first SEC championship appearance.
McLaughlin is now training for the Summer Olympic games.
I’m excited for her and think you’ll be hearing a lot more from Sydney in the years to come.
Remember the name, Sydney McLaughlin!
