Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has been juggling so much recently. Like, truly juggling. Final month, the Olympian showed off her skills while visiting her hometown in New Jersey. She did the identical throughout an look on the “Today” show, and at a University of Kentucky football game simply after being inducted into the college’s corridor of fame. She will be able to juggle balls, golf equipment…even mini-baguettes.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s elite juggling abilities could seem to be a random expertise – one she discovered from her fifth grade instructor in lieu of going to recess- it is smart if you happen to’re acquainted with the New Steadiness-sponsored hurdler’s unflappable disposition and intense focus.
“With each juggling and hurdling you’re in a movement state, the place you’re mentally not even there, your physique is simply doing what it is aware of to do,” she tells PS. “They each require consideration to element, and adjusting in actual time. Juggling can generally be a balancing act, and I do assume steadiness within the hurdles can be actually essential.”
“It’s a enjoyable social gathering trick, nevertheless it’s additionally enjoyable and therapeutic,” provides McLaughlin-Levrone, who even breaks out a set of juggling balls to calm her thoughts pre-race.
However McLaughlin-Levrone has been doing a number of proverbial juggling this yr, too. Along with successful two gold medals on the Paris Olympics (considered one of which concerned breaking her personal world document within the 400 meter hurdles), she dominated the 400m flat at an invitational race on the latest Diamond League finals in Brussels. Now within the midst of her well-earned offseason, McLaughlin-Levrone spoke to PS about her record-breaking 2024, how she’s taking cost of her profession, and future goal-setting.
PS: How a lot time do you often take off from coaching in your offseason? Is there something you want to try this you don’t often have time to do, or don’t need to do due to the way it impacts your physique?
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone: It modifications yearly, as a result of the following season is all the time totally different relying on when the championships are. However I a minimum of attempt to take a full month off to let my physique relaxation, simply because observe seasons are so lengthy. I eat meals that I don’t usually get to eat – I’m sitting right here with Chick-Fil-A proper now. After which simply having the ability to sleep in and never having to get up early for coaching, and having leisure days that aren’t tremendous regimented. It’s pleasurable to have these moments of taking a break from my sport. I believe it’s wholesome and regular, particularly when there are such lengthy seasons of coaching for these very intense moments. That method, I come again refreshed and excited for the following season. I virtually miss it, however you may’t try this except you’re taking a while to essentially relaxation and recuperate.
PS: It seems such as you’ve gotten to do some enjoyable stuff because the Olympics, like having a road named after you in your hometown. How was that?
SML: Honorarily, sure – they’re not truly altering the identify, which is nice. I’m very grateful that no person has to alter their mailing handle [laughs]. However I used to be very shocked. I’m from a small city, it’s like one sq. mile. Each time the Olympics comes round, they’re so supportive and candy and it was very nice to have the ability to go and have fun.
PS: Trying again on this yr’s Olympics and the previous season as a complete, what have been the largest classes and takeaways for you?
SML: I believe the largest lesson I’ve discovered over this previous yr was taking extra possession of my life as an athlete. Every year as I become old, I’m understanding an increasing number of not nearly my sport, however about myself as an individual and about my physique. I really feel like this yr was probably the most development I’ve seen when it comes to taking accountability for my very own profession. That’s one thing that I’ve seen be so useful, and I’m enthusiastic about what the expansion means transferring ahead, not simply on the observe, but additionally for me as an individual.
PS: Have been there particular modifications you made as you took extra management over your profession that you simply discovered to be useful?
SML: I believe it was about stepping out of that little one function and that younger grownup function into the womanhood function. I’m 25 now. I’m a grown girl, that is my profession. I can take the reins of it, and I don’t want folks to schedule issues for me. I do know what I must be doing, I do know my physique. I believe it was flipping that change, as a result of I’ve a tremendous assist system, however I believe out of my very own laziness I let others do so much for me. This was me beginning to take accountability and take that subsequent step.
PS: How have been the Paris Olympics for you? Did they really feel totally different from the opposite two Olympics you’ve skilled?
SML: This felt like my first full Olympics. In Rio, I used to be so younger, and I didn’t know what to anticipate. After which in Tokyo, there have been no followers within the stands. So having the ability to have 70,000 followers and my household there – it was such a full-circle second, and I used to be in a position to take all of it in and expertise it for what it was.
PS: Have been there any practices or rituals that helped you keep grounded in the course of the Video games? How do you domesticate the extraordinary focus that you’ve got?
SML: Simply sticking inside my circle. If you step into a few of these very large arenas, it’s simple to get distracted. You will have all the very best athletes from all around the world coming to at least one place. We do an excellent job of controlling what we will management, and that’s been very useful. I’m very a lot targeted on my religion and the way that carries me by way of these moments. So simply preserving that on the middle.
The extreme focus – that’s pure. It’s not one thing I attempt to educate myself, it’s simply what comes out once I step on the road. It’s the last word deal with what I’m there to perform, after which snapping out of it as soon as the race is over. It’s actually helped me to deal with my lane and what’s forward of me and never trying to the proper or to the left.
PS: Are you somebody who experiences a post-race or post-Olympics comedown? What sorts of emotions got here up for you afterward?
SML: Shock that it’s over. I believe it was every week after, and I used to be like, “Wait, it’s completed?” We’ve been working all of those months for these moments, after which it’s completed. I believe it’s coming to grips with, ‘you may take a breath now,’ as a result of there’s a lot stress that builds up till that second. It’s a interval of adjusting to that second being previous you and specializing in what lies forward.
PS: Talking of what’s subsequent, what’s your course of for setting targets for the following season? Something you take into consideration proper now?
SML: I do not know. Each season, I like to take a seat down and write down what my targets are and put them in a spot the place I can see them and remind myself each day. However as of proper now, I haven’t even sat down with my coach. Because the weeks cross by, we’ll sit down and have a look at the schedule and what we need to goal for transferring ahead.
PS: If you received gold and broke your personal document, you stated there have been nonetheless stuff you wished to enhance. How do you keep so internally-motivated, particularly with all the stress and expectations that others placed on you?
SML: The skin world, the media, the observe world, is all the time going to have expectations of me and what they assume I ought to do, and I admire them caring. However on the finish of the day, once I hold up my spikes, I’ve to be content material with what I did. And I believe that inner motivation for me simply comes from the truth that there’s all the time one thing that may be completed higher. Each time I step on the observe, I’m all the time on the lookout for how I can get tenths of a second, hundredths of a second [faster]. The motivation is that private enchancment and having the ability to say I used to be higher than I used to be the day earlier than, no matter that appears like. I genuinely simply love pushing myself to new heights and new limits. And yeah, there’s no such factor as an ideal race, so there’s all the time one thing that you would do higher.
PS: Do you will have any recommendation on goal-setting – working or fitness-related, or simply life targets?
SML: What I’ve discovered useful is setting targets which are sensible and having a plan on how you can get there. I believe targets with out a plan are only a dream, and so actually sitting down and ensuring, okay, if that is what I’m aiming to do, what are the steps which are going to assist me get there? Then, having grace with your self to know that it could not occur this month, this week, this yr – it could be one thing I’ve to proceed to work in direction of. However having that plan so you may see tangible development is what retains you motivated.
Lauren Wingenroth is a contract journalist protecting all issues sports activities, health, and the performing arts. Along with PS, her tales might be present in The New York Instances, GQ, Outdoors journal, Girls’s Operating, Properly+Good, Dance Journal, and extra.
