Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone knows her worth, and that certainty has defined the choices that make her the athlete she is. Already the holder of the world record in the 400m hurdles, she left that event this season to test herself on the flat. In her very first year in the discipline, she achieved what had not been seen for 40 years. On the same track in Tokyo where she first struck Olympic gold in 2021, McLaughlin-Levrone not only won the 400m world title but made history. Clocking the best time since 1983, Sydney proved her worth yet again. Yet it was not only her victory. It was also the triumph of the man who has stood by her as her rock, her “biggest hype man”, her husband, Andre Levrone Jr.

On Thursday, September 18, at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025, McLaughlin-Levrone stopped the clock at 47.78 seconds, the second-fastest time in history and a new North American record. She became the first athlete to win world titles in both the 400m and 400m hurdles. And the count of feathers she added to her crown with a single run last evening is indeed too many to be mentioned at one go. Sydney lowered the championship best that had lasted 42 years. Jarmila Kratochvilova’s time of 47.99s was shattered by McLaughlin-Levrone with ease. And the list has just started. But it was not just the stats and the numbers that would mark the historic day for Levrone. It was rather the scene that followed.

Right before the unbelievable win, the spotlight soon shifted to the stands, where a man could hardly control his excitement. Spotted leaping, shouting, and pumping his fists, he witnessed his wife rewrite history once more. Andre Levrone Jr., the former NFL wide receiver, could not contain his excitement. He constantly kept on yelling “Yes!” as McLaughlin-Levrone crossed the finish line. Cameras captured him in visible disbelief, clutching at the moment as though he himself had won the gold. The emotion in his eyes was raw, unfiltered, as he went gaga over the victory his wife had just clinched. And why wouldn’t he be! He indeed was the man behind it all. The hard work, the sweat, the determination, and then the win.

McLaughlin-Levrone herself ran straight from the track into his arms, sealing the night with an embrace and a kiss. That kiss was just the award for his role as her constant pillar through trainings, wins, setbacks, comebacks, and now one of the greatest performances the event has ever seen. Their celebration, echoing across the Tokyo stadium, gave a human frame to the numbers that told the story of her dominance.

Another lady indeed made the win even sweeter for Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. Marileidy Paulino, with her record-breaking run, made sure that the audience was left on the edge of their seats. The night was a rare spectacle. For the first time ever, two women broke the 48-second barrier in a single race, with Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino pushing her to the line in 47.96 seconds. Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser completed the podium in 48.19.

The Tokyo final marked McLaughlin-Levrone’s fourth world title across three events. It also introduced the image that may last longest from the night. Reflecting on her switch from the 400m hurdles to flat, she acknowledged, “I knew there were a lot of people doubting me with making the switch from 400m hurdles to the flat 400m, but ultimately, I had faith in my training. I knew I had it in me.” And that exact belief, backed by indomitable preparation, now places her within striking distance of Marita Koch’s long-standing world record of 47.60 from 1985. But the win was not just the victory of the McLaughlin-Levrone. It was an even bigger win for the husband, who made sure to be her loudest cheerleader. Moreover, this wasn’t the first time. Sydney has gotten her “biggest hype man” by her side every time she geared up to carve history. And it all started with a simple text message.

How a caption from Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone just demanding attention won a husband instead?

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone recalled the beginnings of her relationship with Andre Levrone by returning to a single photograph she once posted online. She had casually shared a selfie on Instagram with the caption “Attention.” She even explained how that caption meant nothing but a simple “reference to a song I’d been listening to.” However, later that day, she found a message waiting on her phone that was indeed waiting for her “attention”. It was from the former football player and her future husband. The words read, “You have my attention. How can I get yours?” Quite smooth, don’t you think?

Sitting in a conversation with People just ahead of the Paris Olympics, McLaughlin-Levrone credited her husband’s constant encouragement. She just stated plainly, “He’s my biggest hype man for sure.” For quite some time now, it has been his presence that has helped Sydney balance the relentless expectations of competition with steadier ground at home. Levrone had quickly known the depth of their connection, telling her within days of meeting that he was certain of it. And it did not take long for their beautiful bond to grow into marriage. The D-Day unraveled in Virginia back in 2022, and by the time she shared her story publicly, both were looking back on those early messages with a sense of clarity about how significant they had been.

McLaughlin-Levrone explained that what made their bonding meaningful. And she noted how their shared understanding made their relationship all the more special. “I’m so grateful for Andre because he understands the athlete life, the day-to-day, what it takes, and all the little things,” she said. For the world-class athlete, it was her husband who taught her to have a new perspective about victories and disappointments and that has just helped her shine brighter on the track and her life. “I’ve learned how to view my wins, my losses, everything in between as just God’s plan and to take it as it comes,” she shared. Moreover, Andre has himself been an athlete, and it became easier for the couple to navigate the demands of their life as they shared a similar athletic background.