Tokyo Olympics 2021: Sydney McLaughlin engaged, ‘toxic’, fame, social media, 400m hurdles

McLaughlin is one of the darlings of the track as the 22-year-old became the first woman to break through the 52 second mark in the 400m hurdles in the US Olympic track and field trials before the Olympics.

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She went on to claim gold in world record time in the 400m hurdles, dropping the mark to 51.46 seconds, with countrywoman Dalilah Muhammad claiming silver in 51.58.

The records caused controversy as the “super shoe” saw long-held records tumble.

She also claimed a second gold as part of the USA’s 4x400m women’s relay as the team won by nearly four seconds.

But she arguably claimed an even more valuable piece of silverware when Levrone proposed in a romantic getaway at the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale in Arizona.

McLaughlin shared images of the special sunset proposal alongside a letter to her “future husband”.

“Till this day I still can’t comprehend how someone who possesses everything I’ve prayed for, has finally come into my life,” she began. “Our growth together exceeds what the dates on a calendar show. I fall in love with you more and more each day off of the strength of your faith.

“Andre, you are the most God-fearing, passionate, honest, loving, hard working, protective, and genuine man I’ve ever met. I see Jesus in you. And as a result it makes you so easy to love. I truly did not know the definition of love until I met you; a sacrificial choice to lay down your life for the well being of another.

“With that being said, there is no one I’d rather lay down my life for. The calling God has on our lives goes far beyond our love for one another. This union will impact lives for His kingdom, and that’s what excites me most. I have no fear. I will keep my eyes on you, as you keep your eyes on Him. You’re the perfect man to lead me, and I cannot wait to follow.

“Love, your future wife.”

McLaughlin left Tokyo with the world at her feet as well with the youngster seen as the “face” of US track and field and set to cash in on her new found fame.

But it also appears to be something that sits uneasily on McLaughlin’s shoulders after she posted a 10 minute video on Instagram where she shed tears over her treatment after breaking the world record.

She said she filmed it two days after the Olympic Trials and said she was glad that she didn’t live for the approval of others, although she added: “I felt like the people I thought would be the most excited for me literally almost didn’t even care.”

She then took aim at fame and social media, including calling out teammates that said her success was due to the fact she was “light-skinned”.

“Humans, we were not made to carry so much weight,” McLaughlin continued. “We were not made to carry so much attention on us. We were not made to be famous. That was never what God intended for us, ever! The only person who is strong enough to carry that is Jesus.”

“I’m grateful for the platform, and I’m grateful to be able to reach people. But I don’t want it,” she revealed. “I don’t want fame. I don’t want any of that. It’s toxic. It genuinely, physically makes me sick. I don’t want the fame. I would just like a little bit of respect.

“We don’t have to be best friends. You may not agree with my message. But in the sport, at the age of 21, to be a two-time Olympian and a world record holder, I would just like a little bit of respect, just a little. You guys can have all that other stuff.

“It blows my mind. People who have been my teammates who have watched me die every day at practice believe I’m standing here today because I have followers, because I am light-skinned,” she said in tears. “I can’t control what colour my skin is. I can’t control who presses the follow button, but I can control what I do on that track and that’s the thing that doesn’t get the respect and it blows my mind.”

McLaughlin has more than a million followers on Instagram and the video was viewed more than 1.2m times.

She also went on a social media hiatus weeks before the Olympics.

“A lot of that is outside things I can’t control and I just tried to minimise it,” McLaughlin said. “I stayed off social media, stayed in my room, talked to friends and family and stuck to what I knew.”

Originally published as Olympic champ Sydney McLaughlin engaged after venting ‘toxic’ fury