Sydney McLaughlin not only made the U.S. Olympic team in the 400-meter hurdles, but she also set a new world record in the process.
“All the glory to God,” McLaughlin said. “Honestly, this season, just working with my new coach and my new support system, it’s truly just faith and trusting the process. I couldn’t ask for anything more, and truly it is all a gift from God.”
The trial was her fourth 400-meter hurdles race this season, and she said that “having that childlike faith and trusting that everything is going to work out” is what helped her get through. McLaughlin beat the reigning U.S. Olympic and world champion, Dalilah Muhammad, who set the record in 2019. This year, however, Muhammad finished second, which also qualified her for the Olympic team. The two women will go head to head for the gold in Tokyo.
Although McLaughlin was asked if she ever felt frustrated finishing behind Muhammad in the past, the young athlete said her faith made all the difference in this race.
“I think I was growing into my own person,” she said. “And I think the biggest difference this year is my faith, trusting God and trusting that process, and knowing that he’s in control of everything. As long as I put the hard work in, he’s going to carry me through. And I really cannot do anything more but give the glory to him at this point.”
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While Muhammad has said she doesn’t consider their showdowns a rivalry, McLaughlin said, “Iron sharpens iron. People can call it whatever they want to call it. It’s two great athletes pushing each other to be better. There’s no animosity, no hard feelings. It’s just two people trying to be their best and we wouldn’t be able to have these world records go back and forth without one another.”
McLaughlin is outspoken about her Christian faith on social media. In an Instagram post from February, McLaughlin boldly testified that she chose to place her future in God’s hands.
“We can laugh at whatever lies ahead, because we know HE has already won,” she wrote. “We can sleep easier at night knowing HE has a plan for whatever may normally trouble us. We can laugh at anything that doesn’t fit the purpose for our lives, because we know God’s plan is greater.”
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice
