During a recent press conference at Roland Garros, Coco Gauff offered fans a deeper glimpse into the people who inspire her not just as a tennis player, but as an athlete and individual. While the 20-year-old tennis phenom has quickly carved out her own place among the sport’s elite, she made it clear that her sources of motivation extend well beyond the tennis court.
One name stood out among those she mentioned: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the Olympic and world champion hurdler known for her dominance on the track and her grounded, faith-driven approach to life. Gauff revealed that she considers McLaughlin-Levrone one of her key role models outside of tennis, noting how much she admires Sydney’s poise, humility, and excellence under pressure. “She’s someone I really look up to,” Gauff shared, emphasizing how McLaughlin-Levrone’s discipline and grace have influenced her mindset as a professional athlete.
Gauff’s admiration for McLaughlin-Levrone comes as no surprise to those familiar with the values both young women share. Both have achieved extraordinary success at a young age while maintaining a strong sense of self and purpose. For Gauff, who has faced immense expectations and media scrutiny since her breakout Wimbledon run in 2019, role models like McLaughlin-Levrone serve as a reminder of the power of resilience and faith.
But Sydney isn’t the only figure Coco draws inspiration from. Gauff also named several other iconic athletes whose careers and personal stories have helped shape her competitive spirit. Among them are Simone Biles, the record-breaking gymnast widely considered the greatest of all time in her sport; LeBron James, the NBA superstar known for both his dominance on the court and his advocacy off of it; and basketball legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, two players whose legendary work ethics and mental toughness have become the gold standard across all sports.
“I think what they’ve all done in their respective sports is amazing,” Gauff said. “But beyond that, it’s about how they carry themselves and how they’ve used their platforms to inspire others.”
At just 20 years old, Coco Gauff is already building a legacy of her own. Yet her reflections at Roland Garros showed a humility and maturity well beyond her years. By surrounding herself—mentally and emotionally—with the examples set by athletes like Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Simone Biles, and Kobe Bryant, Gauff continues to grow not just as a tennis star, but as a role model in her own right.
As her journey unfolds, it’s clear that Coco Gauff is not only chasing titles, but also striving to live with the kind of purpose and inspiration that defines the legends she admires.