Sydney McLaughlin was only 17 years old when she made her Olympic debut at the 2016 Rio Games, becoming the youngest Olympic track and field athlete since 1972. As one of the U.S. Olympic team’s freshest faces, she didn’t make the 400m hurdles final in Rio, but she exceeded expectations. Now at age 21, McLaughlin will arrive in Tokyo with her eyes set on gold.
Success in the 400m is part of McLaughlin’s genes. Her father, Willie, was an All-American in the 400m at Manhattan College and a semi-finalist at the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials, while her mother, May, was the student manager of the team. Sydney’s sister, Morgan, ran for St. Mary’s University, and her brother, Taylor, competed in the 400m and 400m hurdles for the University of Michigan.
Growing in Dunellen, New Jersey as part of a family so focused on running, Sydney said her parents made sure not to put too much pressure on her at a young age.
