Sydney Mclaughlin is an American hurdler, sprinter, and Olympic gold medalist who competed for the University of Kentucky for one year before turning professional in 2018.
She is the current world record holder in the women’s 400 meters hurdles with a time of 51.46 seconds, set on August 4, 2021, at the Tokyo Olympics in the final run.
She was the first woman to break 52 seconds in the event when she set the world record of 51.90 at the 2020 USA Olympic trials.
Who is Sydney Mclaughlin?
Sydney Mclaughlin was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, on August 7, 1999.
She grew up in Dunellen, New Jersey, and is a member of the class of 2017 at Union Catholic Regional High School in Scotch Plains, and has been successful academically.
McLaughlin took up running at an early age, following brother Taylor and their older sister Morgan.
Meet Sydney Mclaughlin Parents
Sydney Mclaughlin is the daughter of Willie McLaughlin, a semi-finalist in the 400 m at the 1984 Olympic Trials. He was the recipient of a heart transplant in February 2021.
Her mother, Mary Neumeister McLaughlin, was a high school runner.
Her younger brother, Ryan, took after his older siblings as a track stand-out at Union Catholic.
Sydney Mclaughlin Facts
Sydney Mclaughlin placed a close second behind Shamier Little in the 400-meter hurdles at the national junior (under-20) championships in 2014; her time of 55.63 was a national high school freshman record and a world age-14 best.
She would have qualified to represent the United States at the 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships, but was a year too young to be eligible.
McLaughlin also set a world age group best (13.34) in the 100-meter hurdles over 76.2 cm (2 ft 6 in) hurdles that summer.
After a bidding war, she got an estimated $1.5 million in annual base pay from New Balance.