SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN-LEVRONE EXPLAINS WHY SHE PUTS ON A LONG FACE BEFORE HER RACES

WHEN SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN-LEVRONE STEPS ONTO THE TRACK, THERE’S ONE THING THAT’S AS CONSISTENT AS HER RECORD-BREAKING TIMES: HER SERIOUS, UNWAVERING EXPRESSION. FANS OF TRACK AND FIELD HAVE COME TO RECOGNIZE THE LONG FACE SHE WEARS BEFORE EVERY RACE — A LOOK THAT’S AS INTENSE AS IT IS MYSTERIOUS. NOW, THE WORLD-RENOWNED HURDLER HAS OPENED UP ABOUT WHY THAT LOOK MATTERS, AND WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT HER MENTAL PREPARATION.

THE AMERICAN SUPERSTAR, WHO HOLDS THE WORLD RECORD IN THE 400M HURDLES AND IS AN OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST, RECENTLY SPOKE OUT ABOUT HER EMOTIONS, HER MINDSET, AND THE CRITICISM SHE SOMETIMES RECEIVES FOR HER APPARENTLY STONE-COLD DEMEANOR.

“I GET A LOT OF FLAK,” MCLAUGHLIN-LEVRONE ADMITTED IN A RECENT INTERVIEW. “BUT FOR ME, IT’S JUST HOW I STAY FOCUSED.”

NOT JUST A FACE — A FOCUS

FOR MCLAUGHLIN-LEVRONE, HER FACIAL EXPRESSION ISN’T ABOUT AVOIDING FUN OR BEING UNAPPROACHABLE — IT’S A SIGNAL OF DEEP, SPIRITUAL, AND MENTAL PREPARATION. SHE DESCRIBED HER PRE-RACE MINDSET AS A COMBINATION OF PRAYER, VISUALIZATION, AND LASER FOCUS.

“THE NIGHT BEFORE, I’M VISUALIZING. A LOT OF PRAYER GOES INTO IT,” SHE SAID. “AND ONCE I GET TO THE LINE, I KNOW THAT ALL THE PREPARATION HAS BEEN DONE.”

THIS DISCIPLINED ROUTINE HELPS HER ZONE IN ON HER PERFORMANCE. SHE’S NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE CROWD OR THE CAMERAS — SHE’S THINKING ABOUT EVERY HURDLE, EVERY STRIDE, AND HOW TO EXECUTE HER RACE PLAN TO PERFECTION.

A WARRIOR ON THE TRACK

WHEN ASKED WHAT SHE FEELS RIGHT BEFORE COMPETING, MCLAUGHLIN-LEVRONE DESCRIBED IT IN POWERFUL TERMS.

“LIKE I’M ALMOST GOING TO WAR,” SHE SAID. “THAT’S THE MINDSET I BRING — THIS ISN’T JUST A SPORT TO ME. THIS IS MY CALLING, MY PASSION, AND I’M HERE TO GIVE EVERYTHING.”

THAT LONG FACE ISN’T COLDNESS. IT’S CLARITY. SHE’S NOT BLOCKING THE WORLD OUT — SHE’S TUNING INTO HER PURPOSE.

CRITICISM FROM OUTSIDE — CONFIDENCE FROM WITHIN

OVER THE YEARS, SOME CRITICS HAVE QUESTIONED HER LACK OF OUTWARD EMOTION, ESPECIALLY IN A SPORT WHERE ATHLETES ARE OFTEN ENCOURAGED TO SMILE, PERFORM, OR ENGAGE WITH THE AUDIENCE. MCLAUGHLIN-LEVRONE HAS HEARD IT ALL — BUT SHE’S UNBOTHERED.

“EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT. THIS IS ME. I DON’T PUT ON A SHOW. I STAY TRUE TO MYSELF.”

HER STYLE MAY NOT FIT THE MOLD, BUT HER RESULTS SPEAK LOUDER THAN ANY CRITIC. SHE’S BROKEN RECORDS THAT STOOD FOR DECADES. SHE’S CHANGED THE WAY PEOPLE SEE WOMEN’S HURDLING. AND SHE’S DONE IT ALL WITHOUT COMPROMISING WHO SHE IS.

A MESSAGE TO YOUNG ATHLETES

MCLAUGHLIN-LEVRONE’S JOURNEY IS A LESSON IN STAYING TRUE TO ONESELF. IN A WORLD OBSESSED WITH IMAGE, SHE’S A REMINDER THAT AUTHENTICITY AND INNER PEACE CAN BE A COMPETITIVE EDGE.

“IF YOU’RE GOING TO DO THIS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE. YOU HAVE TO PROTECT THAT.”

HER LONG FACE ISN’T JUST A LOOK. IT’S A SHIELD. IT’S A TOOL. AND IT’S A REFLECTION OF HER DEEP FAITH, HER RESOLVE, AND HER COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE.

AS SHE PREPARES FOR ANOTHER OLYMPIC CYCLE AND CONTINUES TO EVOLVE AS BOTH AN ATHLETE AND A PERSON, ONE THING IS CLEAR: SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN-LEVRONE’S FOCUSED EXPRESSION ISN’T A WALL — IT’S A WINDOW INTO A CHAMPION’S SOUL.