Sydney McLaughlin named 2022 World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year
The accolades continue to pile up for former Kentucky superstar Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. A two-time Olympic gold medalist, three-time gold medalist at the World Championships and the world record holder in the 400M hurdles, the 23-year-old out of New Brunswick, New Jersey is now the 2022 World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year.
Winner of the governing body’s Rising Stars Award just four years ago, McLaughlin-Levrone earned the prestigious honor from World Athletics on Monday. Olympic pole vault champion Mondo Duplantis was named Male Athlete of the Year.
“It means absolutely everything, just super grateful for the opportunity,” McLaughlin-Levrone said after the win. “First and foremost, all glory to God and for my team, my coach, my trainers, my husband, my family, everybody, it’s just been an unreal season. I’m really grateful it culminated with this to kind of cap it all off.”
The former Wildcat’s biggest moment of the year came at Hayward Field in Eugene, OR at the World Championships, shattering her own personal best with a 50.68 in the 400M hurdles, a new world record. She also won gold in the 4X400M relay.
“All of my goals were accomplished this year,” said McLaughlin-Levrone. “We were able to accomplish everything we set out to do. It couldn’t have been any better, and I was so grateful that I was able to produce that performance in front of a home crowd.”
Prior to her standout run in 2022, McLaughlin-Levrone previously won two gold medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games — moved to 2021 due to COVID-19 — in the 400M hurdles and 4X400M relay.
“I would describe 2022 for myself by just saying, incredible. Dreams come true and answered prayers. Everything that we aimed to do, we were able to accomplish and I’m just super grateful for that opportunity,” McLaughlin told World Athletics. “It makes me feel super honored just to have been able to do it, be a part of it, accomplish that goal of breaking the barrier of 51 (seconds). It also just excites me because I know there’s more, there’s more possible.
“I think as a whole this generation of athletes is figuring out that there’s a lot more that we can do, and I’m excited to be a part of that, too.”
During her time at Kentucky, McLaughlin-Levrone ended her brief career with a first-place finish at the NCAA Division I Championships after breaking just about every individual record the school had to offer.
Now, she’s the 2022 World Athletics Female Athlete of the Year.
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