The Olympics at 16 years old is absolutely groundbreaking, plain and simple. I mean, most of us don't even have our permits yet! But let's add on her various U20, High School Girl, and World Junior records. It's no wonder that she is only 18 and has already been named Gatorade's National Girl Athlete of The Year twice.
From Dunellen, New Jersey, Sydney has just debuted as a top sprinter at the University of Kentucky, and she's leaving behind a string of New Jersey records and wins, both indoor and outdoor. She, like Allyson Felix, is simply an all-around athlete. She is successful in all of her endeavors, from the 200 to the 400 to the 55 to anything involving a hurdle. Sydney is great at everything she does, open races included.
With a stunning debut at the D1 University of Kentucky, Sydney is already crossing new roads and breaking new collegiate records. Seeing what she could do in high school makes me that much more excited to see how she'll do against older, more experienced athletes. Sydney is an unbeatable, unbreakable force and I can't wait to watch her qualify and rise to the top of the Olympics 2020.
Where did she get her start? Sydney was once a young athlete, too, and she started just like all of us. She was terrified when she first entered high school, with the speed, intensity, and difficulty encompassing competitive high school track.
Coming into her freshman year of high school, the anxious and nervous Sydney had nothing to worry about. She went on to destroy and defeat various indoor, outdoor, high school, New Jersey state, age group, and even World U20 records. There was hardly ever a race that Sydney ran that she didn't win. With a 400 outdoor record of 50.07, it's not hard to see why.
Sydney McLaughlin is one of my hugest inspirations and motivations when it comes to track and field, and I think that it's so awesome that I run on the same indoor track and field facility track that she once did. I've run her best race, the 400m, in the same lane that she once did. The only difference is that it took me probably like 30 seconds longer than it took her!
Sydney could have gone pro directly out of high school, with multiple offers lined up just waiting for her to take her pick. Instead, Sydney decided that she wanted to experience a real teenager's college experience. Luckily, any college would be lucky to have her. She accepted a scholarship from the NCAA Division 1 college, University of Kentucky, and she continues to hit the books and smash collegiate records there, where she is today.
As for the future? Sydney is not sure. If she is going to go pro is something that we will have to find out for ourselves. I for one cannot wait to see her return back to the Olympic state in Tokyo 2020, and believe she's got the talent, passion, and work ethic to bring home the gold.