Sidney McLaughlin-Levrone has been juggling a lot lately. It’s like actually juggling. Last month, the Olympian visited her hometown in New Jersey to show off her skills. She did the same when she appeared on the “Today” show and at a University of Kentucky football game shortly after being inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. She can juggle balls, clubs, and even mini baguettes.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s elite juggling skills may seem like an accidental talent — one she learned from her fifth-grade teacher during recess — but the New Balance-sponsored hurdler’s moves If you are familiar with his unique temperament and ability to concentrate, it is no wonder.
“Whether it’s juggling or hurdles, you’re in a flow state and mentally you’re not even in that state, your body is just doing what it’s supposed to do,” she told PS. “Both require attention to detail and real-time adjustments. Juggling can be a balancing act, and I think balancing hurdles is also very important.”
“It’s a fun party trick, but it’s also relaxing and therapeutic,” adds McLaughlin-Levrone, who sometimes practices juggling balls to calm her mind before a race.
But McLaughlin-Levrone has been doing a lot of the proverbial juggling this year. In addition to winning two gold medals at the Paris Olympics (one of which was breaking his own world record in the 400m hurdles), he recently won the 400m flat in the Diamond League Finals invitational race in Brussels. conquered. Currently in the midst of a productive offseason, McLaughlin-Levrone spoke to PS about his record-breaking year in 2024, how he feels about his career, and setting goals for the future.
PS: How much time do you usually take off from training during the off-season? Is there anything you would like to do that you normally don’t have time for or don’t want to do because of the impact on your body?
Sidney McLaughlin-Levrone: It changes every year because the next season is always different depending on when the championship is. But track season is so long that I try to take at least a full month off to give my body a rest. I eat things that I wouldn’t normally eat. I’m sitting here with Chick-Fil-A right now. And you don’t have to wake up early for training, you can sleep soundly and have less regular leisure days. It’s fun to have a moment to take a break from sports. I think that’s healthy and normal, especially when you have such a long season of training for such an intense moment. That way, you can come back refreshed and excited for the next season. I almost miss it, but I can’t do that unless I really take time to rest and recover.
PS: Since the Olympics, it seems like you’ve started doing fun things like having a street named after you in your hometown. How was it?
SML: To your credit, yes, we’re not actually changing the name. That’s great. I’m really grateful that no one has to change their email address (lol). But I was so shocked. I’m from a small town, about a square mile. Every time the Olympics were held, they were so supportive and kind and it was a real pleasure to go and celebrate the Olympics.
PS: Looking back at this year’s Olympics and this past season as a whole, what was the biggest lesson or takeaway for you?
SML: I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned over the past year is that I’ve become more in charge of my life as an athlete. As I get older, I understand more and more about not only my sport, but also about myself as a person and my body. I feel like this year has been the most growth year I’ve ever had in terms of taking responsibility for my career. I feel like it’s going to be very beneficial for me and I’m excited about what this growth means moving forward, not just on the track, but for me as a person.
PS: Were there any specific changes that you think have helped you as you gained more control over your career?
SML: I think it was about stepping out of a child role or a young adult role and taking on a female role. I’m 25 years old now. I’m a grown woman, this is my career. I can be in charge and don’t need someone else to set my schedule. I know what to do, I know my body. I think the switch was flipped because I have a great support system, but I also think that due to my own laziness, I was letting other people do a lot of things for me. Now I took responsibility and started taking the next step.
PS: What was the Paris Olympics like for you? Did it feel different from the other two Olympics you experienced?
SML: This felt like my first real Olympics. In Rio I was young and didn’t know what to expect. And in Tokyo, there were no fans in the stands. Having 70,000 fans and my family there was just a full-circle moment where I was able to take it all in and experience it for what it is.
PS: Were there any practices or rituals that helped you stay grounded during the Olympics? How do you develop intense focus?
SML: Just staying within my own circle. When you step into these very large arenas, it’s easy to get distracted. The best athletes from around the world come together. We’re very good at controlling what we can control, and that’s helping us a lot. I am very focused on my faith and how it sustains me through these moments. So just keep it centered.
It’s natural to have better concentration. It’s not something you try to teach yourself, it’s something that comes out when you step on the line. It’s about having ultimate focus on what you’re there to accomplish and getting out of there as soon as the race is over. It really helped that I was able to focus on the lane and ahead without looking to the right or left.
PS: Have you ever felt depressed after a race or an Olympics? What emotions came up afterward?
SML: I’m shocked it’s over. I think it was a week later, and I was like, “Wait, it’s over?” We’ve been working all these months for this moment, and it’s over. I think there’s so much tension building up to that moment that you find yourself in a situation where you’re like, “I can take a breath now.” It’s a period of adapting to passing moments and focusing on what lies ahead.
PS: Speaking of what’s next, what’s your process for setting goals for next season? Is there anything you’re thinking about right now?
SML: I don’t know. Every season, I like to sit down and write down my goals, put them somewhere I can see them, and say them to myself every day. But so far, I have never sat down with a coach. As the weeks go by, we sit down and consider our schedule and what we want to achieve going forward.
PS: When you won the gold medal and broke your own record, you said there were still things you wanted to improve. How do you maintain so much internal motivation, especially with the pressure and expectations placed on you by others?
SML: The outside world, the media and the track world are always expecting me and thinking about what I should do, so I appreciate their concern. But when you put on your spikes at the end of the day, you have to be satisfied with what you did. And I think the internal motivation for me comes from the fact that there’s always something we can do better. Every time I step on the track, I’m always thinking about how I can get a tenth of a second or a hundredth of a second (faster). Motivation comes from personal improvement and being able to say that you are better than you were the day before, whatever that means. I really love pushing myself to new heights and limits. Well, there’s no such thing as a perfect race, so there’s always something you can do better.
PS: Do you have any advice for goal setting, whether running, fitness related, or just life goals?
SML: What I’ve found helpful is setting realistic goals and creating a plan to get there. A goal without a plan is just a dream, so sit down and ask yourself, “If this is my goal, what steps should I take to get there?” is. And I give myself space to know that it might not happen this month, this week, this year, and that may be something I have to keep working towards. However, making a plan that allows you to see visible growth will help you stay motivated.
Lauren Wingenroth is a freelance journalist covering all things sports, fitness, and the performing arts. In addition to PS, her stories can be found in The New York Times, GQ, Outside Magazine, Women’s Running, Well + Good, Dance Magazine, and more.
