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In her memoir, Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith, published in January, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone reflected on her injury, noting that her pain was overlooked. The oversight contributed to the challenges she faced during her time at the university.
The 25-year-old had chosen the University of Kentucky to train under Coach Flo and attended the university for only one year before transitioning to a professional track career.
In her memoir, Levrone recalled her days at the new college (University of Kentucky, UK) and revealed about the injury she sustained. She noticed a sharp pain in her right foot but wasn't sure of the cause.
She speculated that her shoes (required by the university's equipment deal) and the intense training regime might have contributed to the discomfort. Despite voicing her concerns to her coach, the injury wasn't taken seriously.
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Reflecting on that event, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone wrote:
"I felt like he didn't take my complaint seriously, even though the injury only continued to get worse. Yet I did what I was told. It never caused me to miss a race, but it ended up being a stress fracture that I would not find out I had until a year later. "
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Levrone added two Olympic gold medals to her tally and also set a new world record in the 400m hurdles with a time of 50.57 seconds.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone on her time at the University of Kentucky: "I would not be the woman that I am had I not attended the UK"
During her induction into the University of Kentucky's Athletics Hall of Fame in September this year, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone reflected on her college experience, sharing how those years shaped her into the person she is today. She was grateful to Coach Flo for guiding her to the track field.
She said (via UK Sports Video on YouTube):
"My year here was hard. I'm not going to act like it wasn't, um, as it is for many college athletes all over the country, but I wouldn't change it for the world honestly, I would not be the woman that I am had I not attended the UK. Though with only one year under my belt, I may not have a degree," Levrone said (1:05 onwards).
She added:
"It was here on this track back that I learned for the first time that 50 seconds was possible in the 400 hurdles, thanks to coach Flo and the way that he pushed me to where I was on the track seeing jellyfish flying around, that's how hard the workout was."
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone also highlighted notable athletes, including Kennry Harrison, Omar McLeod, Leah Nugent, and Corey Carter for their support. She credited the University of Kentucky for shaping her journey and launching a career she deeply values.
