After smashing the world record for the sixth time in the 400m hurdles at the 2024 Paris Olympics to win gold, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone celebrated by wearing a tiara as she hauled an American flag around the track in her victory lap. Speaking in a post-race press conference in footage shared via Yahoo Sport’ s TikTok on Thursday, August 8, McLaughlin-Levrone, 25, shared the special story behind the headwear choice. “My sister-in-law brought that.
I didn’t tell her to bring that. She told me she was going to bring it and she was going to give it to me,” the athlete told reporters. “I thought she was joking but she was serious but no.
It’s just fun. It’s just family. Just commemorating the moment.
” McLaughlin-Levrone added that having her loved ones in France to share her achievements with her in person took on a special significance after competing at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. The global sporting event was originally scheduled to take place in 2020 but was pushed back a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. When it eventually kicked off in 2021, there were restrictions on spectators, which meant no family, friends or regular spectators were allowed to be present to cheer on the athletes.
“[I’m] really grateful she got to be here,” McLaughlin-Levrone said of her sister-in-law. “My whole family got to be here. Especially after Tokyo, nobody’s families were here so it’s just special to have them in the crowds.
” McLaughlin-Levrone’s husband-of-tw.