'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAJAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABwUG/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAf/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAkIp7rU//xAAmEAABAgQDCQAAAAAAAAAAAAADAgUAAQQGEhUiISMyMzVxc8Tx/9oACAEBAAE/ALqr8gfLPbGsBhNiaoqiKTUk172WxWL5rhRA4p8EXf1ho8/tBgvNX3nH/8QAFREBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL/2gAIAQIBAT8Al//EABURAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAB/9oACAEDAQE/AK//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
"Coming off of last year being injured"- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone opens up returning to the track for Paris Olympics after major setback
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone recently took home the World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year award for the second time since 2022. The 25-year-old Olympic champion also opened up on the injury that prevented her from competing in the 2023 season.
In an interview just after the award ceremony, McLaughlin-Levrone opened up on what inspired her to return to the track in time for the Olympic season. In her words:
"It was an amazing year. Honestly so grateful coming off of last year being injured to come back and be able to be healthy."
McLaughlin-Levrone suffered a knee injury in mid-2023, which forced her to withdraw from the rest of the season, including the World Athletics Championships held in Budapest in 2023.
However, despite the setback, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone recovered in time to make herself available for the Olympics. She broke the world record not once but twice. She clocked 50.65 at the US Olympic Trials to qualify for the women's 400m hurdles event at the Paris Olympics.
McLaughlin-Levrone later broke her record in the finals of the women's 400m hurdles event at the Paris Olympics, winning gold for a second consecutive time as she clocked 50.37 seconds. Anna Cockrell of the USA took home the silver medal, while McLaughlin-Levrone's archrival, Femke Bol of Netherlands clinched the bronze medal.
How did Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's injury impact her previous season?
![Impact of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's injury on her 2023 season [Image for Representational Purposes] [Image Source : Getty]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/23d72-17331173548813-1920.jpg)
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone made a remarkable comeback in 2024. However, the journey was far from a cakewalk due to the injury she had incurred after July 2023, which had pulled her out from the rest of the season.
A few months ago, after the conclusion of the Diamond League Finals held in Brussels, McLaughlin-Levrone took to Instagram to reflect on her thoughts on the previous season, and how she overcame her injury. She wrote:
"Man, After last year, having to sit out due to injury, the mental build back to the world stage felt like a mountain of a climb. Yet as I reflect on the year, I’m so thankful for the ways in which God challenged every part of me to rely solely upon Him in some of the most grueling moments."
"In it all, I will continue to do what I’ve always done, which is endeavor to improve. Use my platform to proclaim Christ, and redirect the glory back to God as much as I can. 🥹," she added.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is now preparing for the upcoming athletic season of 2025. She is also contemplating making the switch to the 200m and 400m events, for which she also participated in the invitational races at the Diamond League finals held in Brussels in September 2024.
Trending
