American track and field star Sydney McLaughlin, who holds the world record in the women’s 400 meter hurdles, chatted with Digital Journal’s Markos Papadatos as part of a virtual press conference prior to the Tokyo Olympic Games.
On her daily motivations, she said, “Understanding more of the woman that I want to become. Making the team at 16, there was so much that I was just uncertain about not only in the sports world but being a teenage girl. The past five years have been crucial to understanding who I want to be and what I want to represent through how I conduct myself in the sport.”
“As an athlete, the progression of making it onto the biggest stage, the professional stage, and taking as much as I can from others who have been in my shoes, I do learn a lot from those who have gone before me. It is cool to be around the veterans in the sport,” she elaborated.
“It has just been amazing to soak in other people’s knowledge and really implement it and put it into how I conduct myself and how I run my race,” she added.
Her world record performance in the women’s 400 meter hurdles (where she clocked 51.90 seconds) took place a few weeks ago at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
“I definitely think that it was a confidence booster,” she admitted. “When I made the coaching switch last year, there was a lot of uncertainty. It definitely brought peace of mind knowing that it was a great decision, and a great indicator going into Tokyo where we are at. I think it’s a good place to be.”
On the greatest lesson that track and field has ever taught her, McLaughlin responded, “I think there is still so much that I can learn at this moment in time. It really is about focusing on your lane. Everybody’s journey in the sport looks different, nothing is ever guaranteed from year to year. Taking opportunities that you have in front of you (and not looking around at what everyone else is doing) is so much easier said than done, but for me, focusing on my lane and my hurdles truly does make a difference.”
To learn more about Team USA Olympian Sydney McLaughlin, follow her on Instagram.
