Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone entered the Paris Olympics as the favorite in the 400m hurdles. And why not? She has been on a streak of record-breaking runs. Before the Games, the Brunswick native had shattered the 400mH world record five times, to be precise. Paris was no different; the world watched with bated breath as Sydney surged past the finish line in a record-shattering 50.37 seconds. In the 4x400m relay, she again pushed her team to the golden victory with her fourth-fastest relay split of 47.71s.

Amid the stunned crowd at Stade de France, Sydney McLaughlin’s husband, Andre Levrone, was the loudest to cheer for her moment of glory. Former NFL wide receiver Andre Levrone, who has played for two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and Carolina Panthers, literally appeared quite smitten when the jumbotron focused on Levrone at the start line. Sydney, who tags her husband as her “biggest hype man,” said post-race that having him in the stands meant everything for her,

“[He is] my best friend. My biggest supporter and my personal pastor. I love him more than life itself.” In fact, in her memoir, Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith, the 4x Olympic gold medalist chronicled how race days are quiet at the McLaughlin household. Reiterating the reason to Women’s Health for her July/August cover story, Sydney said,

“We’ve definitely developed our routine and he understands when I’m locked in. It’s nothing personal, just trying to stay super focused and so yeah, he takes care of certain things for me on race day, which I really appreciate so I can focus on what I got to do.”

Sydney and Andre Levrone tied the knot in 2022, nine months after their engagement. The picturesque Early Mountain Vineyards in Madison, Virginia, witnessed their vows cementing their love forever. In a video posted by Track Spice on X on August 23, the world record holder reiterated the reason behind the blazing passion between the power couple that has bonded them for life.

“What inspires me most about Andre is how much he pushes me to be the best I can be,” said Sydney. The 400m hurdle queen further emphasized the trust and confidence in each other as the bedrock of their eternal love story. “In our relationship, there’s no judgment. It’s truly just love and concern and being open to having open, honest dialogue where you can get things out there,” exclaimed McLaughlin. After the Paris Olympics, the sprinting sensation has gone into relaxation mode. Guess where she is at?

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and her husband Andre Levrone are soaking in the Greek sun

Andre might give her necessary space on race days to let his champion wife stay focused but he surely doesn’t miss a chance to shower her with champagne-soaked celebrations. The couple retreated to Europe right after McLaughlin’s monumental run at the Paris Olympics to experience some romantic Greek sunsets together. Sydney ditched the upcoming Lausanne Diamond League that would have seen her locked horn with her 400m hurdles Paris final rival Femke Bol for a well-deserved break.

The occasion was indeed special – Sydney turned 25 on August 7. But amidst the intense showdown at the Paris Olympics, the hurdle queen couldn’t celebrate the special day. Now, relieved of the Olympics pressure, Sydney wasted no time to dive into the celebration with her husband in the iconic Greek archipelago. Sharing glimpses of her holiday retreat, the 400m hurdle world record holder captioned, “8 days late but who’s counting…25.”

The Levrone couple is a shining testament to the power of partnership, proving that with unwavering support and a loving hand; even the loftiest dreams can take flight. What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.