Olympic Gold Medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levorne Gives Glory to God After Her Victory
The Paris Olympic games have been a rollercoaster of emotions and human drama. While elements of the opening ceremonies may have left a bitter taste in the mouths of some Christians, seeming to glorify sin and sexual perversion rather than sportsmanship, the two-week celebration of athletics has also provided an opportunity for many competitors to shine a light amid the darkness. One such shining light has been twenty-five-year-old American runner Sydney McLaughlin-Levone.
Living up to expectations, McLaughlin-Levone impressed on the track. In the finals of women’s 400m hurdles, she pulled away from the rest of the field in stunning fashion, finishing over a second ahead of her competitors on her way to a gold medal and a new world record.
Competing in her third Olympic games, McLaughlin-Levorne now has four gold medals to show for her efforts. After the race, however, she impressed for different reasons. Asked by a journalist about the role faith plays in her running, she responded,
“I credit all that I do to God. He’s given me a gift, He’s given me a drive to just want to continue to improve upon myself, and I have a platform and I want to use it to glorify Him. So whenever I step on the track it’s always the prayer of, ‘God, let me be the vessel in which You’re glorified, whatever the result is — how I conduct myself, how I carry myself, not just how I perform.’ So it’s just freedom in knowing that regardless of what happens, He’s going to get the praise through me. That’s why I do what I do.”
McLaughlin-Levone didn’t seek to make others uncomfortable in a public setting or to insert her religious beliefs into the press conference, but when asked, she was ready to speak openly and authentically about her pivotal relationship with God. After all, in a pinned post on her Instagram, she makes clear that as much as she loves competing and representing her country, her highest calling is to Christ and his perfect will for her life.
