In January, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone received exciting news even before her track season had begun — her trophy collection was about to grow. After setting a world record in the 400-meter hurdles and capturing two Olympic gold medals the previous summer in Paris, McLaughlin-Levrone was named the 44th recipient of the Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year Award, as voted by 138 sports media members from across the state. Yet, her latest honor came with some unusual distinctions.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone became just the eighth professional athlete to be named Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year. However, she made history as the first pro athlete to win the award without having grown up in the commonwealth. She was also the first athlete to claim the honor after spending just one year in college before turning professional and leaving the state. That’s the unique legacy Sydney holds as a Wildcat. But how did this journey begin? How did a hurdler from New Jersey end up with the Kentucky Wildcats?

In a recent conversation with Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone shed light on her decision to join the Wildcats. The hosts were curious about what drew her to Kentucky, and Sydney explained, “Honestly, when I did my visit to K and you got Omar McLeod, Kenny Harrison, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn all training under one roof, bangers of all some of the best hurdles in the world.” Having Olympic champions training side by side created an inspiring environment, and for Sydney, being surrounded by that level of talent was the perfect motivation early in her career.

Sydney acknowledged that reality, saying, “It was popping.” She also trained alongside Daniel Roberts at the Wildcats’ camp, who later went on to win silver in the men’s 110m hurdles at the Paris Olympics. Gatlin described this concentration of elite athletes in one training group as the “Hurdle core,” a label Sydney fully embraced. Yet, there was more to the Wildcats’ success than just the star-studded roster. Something deeper played a crucial role in shaping Sydney’s development on the track.

At the heart of it all was Kentucky’s track and field coach, Edrick Floreal. Reflecting on their conversation, Sydney shared, “I remember being on my visit and asking Flo, like, ‘What do you where do you see yourself in like four years where do you see yourself in the next however many years?'” I was like “I want to become a better hurdler, I want to break the world record and I want to win the Olympics.” And he was like, ‘Well, if you want to train with the best this is the place to do it.’”  Sydney certainly made the most of her time there, cementing her place in Wildcats history. But it raises an interesting question — if she hadn’t chosen Kentucky, what other paths might she have taken?

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone revealed that the University of Southern California was her second choice, followed by the Florida Gators in third. She had even considered training under the Gators’ coach, Mike Holloway, drawn once again by the high-caliber athletes in the program. Still, Sydney admits that her coaching journey has been a mixed bag over the course of her career.

After leaving Wildcats’ camp, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone had to face an uneven path 

After her time training with Edrick Floréal, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone spent three pivotal years (2018-2020) under the guidance of Joanna Hayes. In her book, Far Beyond Gold: Running From Fear to Faith, Sydney affectionately refers to Hayes as her “second mother,” and the bond ran deep — even her brother trained with Joanna. Hayes wasn’t just a coach; she became family.

Yet, as the Tokyo Olympics approached, Sydney knew she needed to evolve her technique to reach the next level. That meant making the tough decision to leave Hayes’s camp — a move that wasn’t easy and left her with bittersweet feelings. But she had to take that leap.

In 2020, Sydney landed under the wing of coaching legend Bobby Kersee, a choice influenced by her prior experiences with him at UCLA. The presence of track icon Allyson Felix in Kersee’s training group also sealed the deal. Reflecting on her decision, Sydney once said, “It’s been a really great experience being around both her [Allyson Felix] and Bobby and just at a young age being able to soak up as much as I can as she’s at the end of her career.” Clearly, she made good on those words. The results speak for themselves — world records, Olympic golds, and history rewritten.

Despite turning pro early, Sydney has continued to make headlines—not only nationally but in the realm of new pro‑track formats. In April 2025, at the first Grand Slam Track meet in Kingston, she captured the long hurdles slam and over $100,000 in prize money, signaling her success under the new professional circuit designed by Michael Johnson.

Yet, despite all her success, Sydney hasn’t forgotten where it all began. The Kentucky Wildcats remain a cherished chapter in her story — and she’s still winning.