In January, before even opening her 2025 track season, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone received news that would further cement her growing legend.
After a dazzling Olympic campaign in Paris where she captured two gold medals and shattered the 400-meter hurdles world record, she was named the 44th recipient of the Kentucky Sports Figure of the Year Award. Voted by 138 sports media members across the state, the honor came with historic distinctions.
McLaughlin-Levrone didn’t grow up in Kentucky, nor did she spend more than a year in college there. Yet, she became only the eighth professional athlete to win the prestigious title, and the first to do so without deep roots in the commonwealth. It was a testament to the lasting imprint she left during her brief but impactful stint with the Kentucky Wildcats.
The Decision That Set It All in Motion
In a recent interview with Olympic champion Justin Gatlin and track analyst Rodney Green, McLaughlin-Levrone opened up about the bold career decision that changed everything for her.
“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 some of the best hurdlers in the world,” she said.
“It was popping.”
For a young athlete with Olympic dreams, being surrounded by that caliber of talent created the ultimate breeding ground for greatness. It wasn’t just about proximity to champions, it was about daily motivation, peer-driven ambition, and the unrelenting push to be better.
The ‘Hurdle Core’ and the Power of Environment
McLaughlin-Levrone trained alongside the likes of Daniel Roberts, who would later claim silver in the men’s 110m hurdles at the Paris Olympics.
This elite circle earned a fitting nickname from Gatlin: the “Hurdle core.” For Sydney, it was a lived experience that shaped her identity as an athlete.
But behind this concentration of talent was the mastermind who brought it all together: Kentucky’s head coach Edrick Floreal. Reflecting on her visit, Sydney shared how a simple conversation with Floreal altered the course of her career.
“I remember being on my visit and asking Flo, like, ‘Where do you see yourself in four years?’ I told him, ‘I want to become a better hurdler, break the world record, and win the Olympics.’ And he was like, ‘Well, if you want to train with the best, this is the place to do it.’”
Though her time at Kentucky was brief, its impact was immeasurable. But McLaughlin-Levrone revealed that other paths were on the table. The University of Southern California was her second choice, followed by the University of Florida.
Both programs boasted impressive track resumes and renowned coaches like Mike Holloway, but in the end, it was the Wildcats’ unique blend of elite training partners and Floreal’s vision that won her over.
Today, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone stands as one of track and field’s most decorated and influential figures, a world record-holder, multiple Olympic champion, and now a celebrated sports icon in a state she once briefly called home.
Her decision to bet on Kentucky wasn’t just a strategic move; it was a bold career gamble that paid off in world records, gold medals, and a legacy still unfolding.
