American Sydney McLaughlin won the gold medal in the 400 metre hurdles race at the Paris Olympics, setting a new world record time of 50.37 seconds in the process.
The 25-year-old, who is a Christian, has now broken the world record in the race six times, and is regarded as a key figure in the next generation of track and field athletes.
She attends Grace Community Church in Los Angeles, and her husband Andre is studying at the Master’s Seminary affiliated with the church.
McLaughlin has been outspoken about her faith. She has spoken about it in various interviews and released an autobiographical book at the start of this year called ‘Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith,’ which documented her experiences between 2016 and 2023.
She said after the race in Paris: ‘I credit all that I do to God. He’s given me a gift, He’s given me a drive to just want to continue to improve upon myself, and I have a platform and I want to use it to glorify Him.
‘Whenever I step on the track it’s always the prayer of, "God, let me be the vessel in which You’re glorified". It is just freedom in knowing that regardless of what happens, He’s going to get the praise through me. That’s why I do what I do.’
'I pray my journey might be a clear depiction of submission and obedience to God.'
After competing at the Olympics in Tokyo in 2021, she posted on her Instagram page that it was an honour to ‘represent the kingdom of God,’ as well as her country.
She went on to say: ‘What I have in Christ is far greater is far greater than what I have or don’t have in my life. I pray my journey might be a clear depiction of submission and obedience to God. Even when it doesn’t make sense, even when it doesn’t seem possible. He will make a way out of no way. Not for my own gratification, but for His glory.’
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