Even the fastest woman over 400m hurdles knows what it feels like to hit a wall. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has never hesitated to speak openly about the mental battles that accompany her world-class performances. Away from the spotlight of record-breaking runs and Olympic gold medals, the champion quietly navigates her own struggles — with fatigue, pressure, and burnout — guided by grace and discipline. Her latest reflection sheds light on how she balances relentless ambition with mindful recovery, offering a glimpse into the mindset that keeps her moving, even on her most exhausting days.

Recently, nutrition scientist and author Anita Rincon Garcia shared a video on Instagram that quickly caught McLaughlin-Levrone’s attention. The Olympic champion reshared it on her Story — a clip from her appearance at the Rising New York Road Runners, a free youth running program, where a young girl asked her how she stays motivated when she feels too tired to train. It’s a question every athlete can relate to — and McLaughlin-Levrone’s response was as honest as it was insightful.

“It can definitely be tiring, for sure, after long practices,” she admitted. “But I think sleep and recovery is very helpful for that. Eating enough, drinking enough, getting enough sleep.”

Still, there are moments when even rest isn’t enough, and the only way forward is through sheer resilience. “I just remind myself that it’s one day at a time, and just taking one moment at a time, not getting overwhelmed. And ultimately, I’m grateful that I pushed through that moment.”

For McLaughlin-Levrone, recovery is as much a necessity as it as a luxury — it’s the cornerstone of performance. Sleep, nutrition, and mental clarity remain non-negotiables in her training routine. Her reflections also align with modern coaching research that emphasizes rest as equally vital as intensity. Staying motivated, she proves, isn’t just about willpower; it’s about caring for both body and mind.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s battle with burnout

This isn’t the first time the 400m world champion has spoken about exhaustion. In her memoir, Far Beyond Gold: Running From Fear to Faith, the New Jersey native opened up about the mental strain she faced between the U.S. trials and the 2016 Rio Olympics. “Those five weeks between the trials and the Olympics were the closest I’d come to burnout since I asked my dad if I could step back from running. For the first time since middle school, I desperately wanted a break,” she revealed.

It was a rare moment of disconnection for a prodigy who had spent most of her life chasing finish lines. She recalled how, during that period, the excitement that once defined racing had begun to fade. While her father described pre-race nerves as “joyful butterflies,” Sydney felt something else entirely. “Things were getting ever more bogged down and complicated,” she admitted.

But even under the weight of fatigue, McLaughlin-Levrone found the strength to show up. At just 16, she raced in Rio and clocked 56.32 seconds in the semifinals – a moment that would go on to define one of the most dominant careers in track and field history. Today, she stands as the second-fastest woman ever to run the 400m, recording a time of 47.78 seconds, and most recently claimed gold at the 2025 Tokyo World Championships.

Her story is a reminder that greatness isn’t only built on power and pace — but on patience, persistence, and the courage to rest when the world expects you to run.