How Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s Faith Informs Life: ‘No Fear of Not Being Enough’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone explained how shifting her focus to Christ gave her the freedom to succeed.
Hard work and dedication have brought McLaughlin-Levrone an Olympic gold medal and a world record in the 400-meter hurdles, but the sprinter’s real secret to success comes from her relationship with the Lord.
“When I was young, even all the way up through high school, there was that joy there [in sprinting]. But I think once you get to the college level, the professional level, it becomes sponsors looking at you, possibly wanting to sign you, how you’re paying your bills once you become a professional, signing bonuses, appearance fees and prize money. And so I think there’s definitely more opportunity as you get older to lose a little bit of that love for it,” McLaughlin-Levrone told the “Jesus Calling” podcast.
“I had a few years where I didn’t love it as much, and it became kind of a burden for sure, but I can say now that I truly do love it, and I still feel that joy and freedom when I step on the track,” she continued.
“I think now I can show up to the track every day and understand that this is a gift He’s given me that win, lose, or draw, it’s an opportunity to glorify Him, and my value is already secure in Christ,” she added. “So there’s no fear of not being enough and that everything that I need is found in Him.”
This mindset allows her freedom that non-Christian athletes don’t feel. McLaughlin-Levrone’s self-worth doesn’t depend on her performance. Rather, she depends upon the unchanging Father for her security.
“I think people want to be loved. That’s what every human truly, deep down desires is there’s a longing for the love that only the Lord can provide,” McLaughlin-Levrone said. “And I think being able to share that with people, it is a hope that surpasses understanding.”
“That’s a daily choice to die to yourself and to fix your eyes on Christ, you know?” she added. “And there’s days where I think I try to take the reins of my life back and it ends up never turning out right, but when I truly surrender to God, that’s when things fall into place. And so it’s to this day a daily decision for sure.”
Thanks to her God-given gift and talents, McLaughlin-Levrone has gained a significant platform, but rather than bask in the glory, she uses what she is given to point others toward the Lord.
“I’ve actually been so encouraged by how many believers there are in the track and field world and how many conversations I’ve had over the past couple of years with men and women who are also bold in their faith,” she said. “Being able to talk about our walks in faith is just so encouraging, to know that even in our sport, there’s a community of believers.”
She shares her story of putting her faith over fear in her recent book “Far Beyond Gold: Running From Fear to Faith,” which released on Jan. 30.
“For [the] majority of my life I had an unhealthy relationship with fear,” the athlete wrote on Instagram. “It controlled everything, until God’s grace granted me true and lasting freedom by way of Jesus Christ, and my prayer is that this book will encourage readers to seek the one who grants lasting freedom resulting in an inheritance that is Far Beyond Gold!”
“At first, I was a little unsure how much I could give in my 22 years of life at the time,” McLaughlin-Levrone told Olympics.com of writing her book, “but I just truly felt like it was an opportunity to just share my story of how I came to Christ and, you know, hopefully encourage someone through that journey. I’m sure when I look back in a few years, I’ll be able to just see the growth.”
Movieguide® previously reported:
With a remarkable career that has captivated the track and field world, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has kept God at the center of her journey from a young prodigy to a global sensation.
Born on August 7, 1999, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Sydney McLaughlin’s affinity for sports was evident from an early age. She quickly gained attention for her impressive performances in high school track and field events, setting records and turning heads with her speed and agility. Her meteoric rise continued when, at 16, she made her debut at the 2016 Rio Olympics, becoming the youngest American track and field Olympian in four decades.
In the following years, McLaughlin solidified her status as a force to be reckoned with. A hurdler and sprinter, she specializes in the 400 meters hurdles, an event that demands both speed and precision.
McLaughlin-Levrone attended the University of Kentucky for one year. While her time there was short because she became a professional, McLaughlin-Levrone made her mark on the program.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
