heart of gold

Sydney McLaughlin’s success on the track has earned her millions of fans over the years. Two of her biggest arrived alongside her at our cover shoot: her parents. Mom and Dad ran too and introduced Sydney to the sport when she was just 6 years old. She fell in love and the rest is, well, history (and history making). Running has always been an outlet for the star and a way for her to express herself. In the last five years she’s turned pro, won two gold medals, set a world record and gotten engaged to former NFL player Andre Levrone Jr. But if you ask Sydney, the best is yet to come. Here, she shares her love story, the way she prioritizes her mental health and the moment she’s most looking forward to on her wedding day.

LAUREN KAY: You are a force, Sydney—a two-time Olympic Gold medalist and a current world record holder in the women’s 400-meter hurdles. Tell us about your running journey.

Running is an amazing part of my life.