Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone on the 'essential' necklace she dons before races that has made her smash six world 400mH records

has revealed how her faith-inspired necklace has played a crucial role in her record-breaking dominance in the 400m hurdles. 

The American sprinting sensation has shattered the world record an astonishing six times, cementing her place as one of the greatest hurdlers of all time.

McLaughlin-Levrone has clinched Olympic gold in both the 2020 and 2024 Summer Games, along with a title at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.

McLaughlin-Levrone, who cemented her status as the greatest 400m hurdler of all time, has revealed she is not afraid to lose brand deals for being vocal about her faith

 Her latest feat came at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where she clocked a staggering 50.37 seconds, lowering her own previous record of 50.65 seconds. 

She is the first track athlete to break four world records in the same event, setting four world-best marks in just 13 months. Notably, she was also the first woman to break both the 52-second (June 2021) and 51-second (July 2022) barriers in the 400m hurdles.

Amidst her success, in her journey.

 Her commitment to Christianity was strengthened following a heartbreaking loss at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar. Despite running a stellar 52.23 seconds in the 400m hurdles final, she finished second behind Dalilah Muhammad, who set a new world record in that race.

McLaughlin-Levrone has opened up on the devastating loss that changed her life forever and made her initiate an intimate relationship with God.

“That race devastated me,” McLaughlin-Levrone admitted in an interview with Despite a season filled with victories in Diamond League meets, missing out on gold forced her to confront deep-seated fears and anxieties.

«I remember thinking, ‘I need to figure out how to deal with this fear because I cannot keep living like this.’ Being able to make it all the way there on the world stage and still come up short was just devastating for me,” she reflected.

The COVID-19 pandemic provided an unexpected turning point in her career and faith. With competition at a standstill, McLaughlin-Levrone found solace in scripture, particularly Colossians 3. It was during this period that she made a symbolic gesture that would change her mindset—she ordered a necklace engraved with the words ‘All for God.’

Since then, the hurdling queen has dominated her event, outpacing top competitors like Femke Bol and rewriting history with every performance. 

Rai Benjamin has explained the quality about Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone that makes her indomitable after shattering the 400m hurdles record for the sixth time in the Paris 2024 Olympic final.

Speaking to in 2022, she explained the significance of the necklace as one of her ten essential items.

“It says ‘All 4 God,’” McLaughlin-Levrone revealed. “Right before each race, I kind of just think about it and focus on what I am going to do, which is glorify and honor God.”

She further elaborated on why she started wearing it ahead of the Tokyo Olympic trials in 2021: “I ordered this right before the Olympic trials just as something I could put on—getting ready for war almost.”

As McLaughlin-Levrone continues her dominance in the 400m hurdles, her faith remains a pillar of her success. 

With her ‘essential’ necklace serving as a constant reminder of her purpose, she has redefined the limits of what is possible in her event, leaving an indelible mark on track and field history.