Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has opened up about her diet, training routine, and recovery practices as she prepares for the upcoming 2025 track season. Fresh off an extraordinary 2024 season where she triumphed at the Paris Olympics, McLaughlin-Levrone is now focused on staying at the top of her game while balancing her nutrition.
The 24-year-old track star, who won two gold medals in Paris—one in the 400m hurdles and another in the 4x400m relay—discussed her approach to eating and how she handles cheat days. “I stick to a high-protein diet, with healthy carbs, vegetables, and plenty of water,” she explained. “We do enjoy the occasional treat, but I try to keep it healthy. Any day can technically be a cheat day, but it’s about moderation. Sometimes I go all out and cut out all bad foods, but my husband Andre always reminds me not to go to extremes. If I deprive myself, I tend to binge later, so we try to find balance with small indulgences.”
Crucial recovery techniques
With her record-breaking performance in the 400m hurdles at the Paris Olympics—where she set a new world record of 50.37 seconds—McLaughlin-Levrone is taking her off-season recovery seriously. Her schedule includes 90-minute training sessions, followed by crucial recovery techniques like ice baths and sauna sessions to keep her body in peak condition.
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, McLaughlin-Levrone is excited to participate in the Michael Johnson’s Grand Slam Track League. The newly established league, which aims to raise the visibility of track and field and increase compensation for athletes, will kick off in 2025. McLaughlin-Levrone, the first athlete to be signed to the league, expressed her enthusiasm about the opportunity. “I’m grateful to be a part of this and to be the first athlete signed. It’s a huge step forward for the sport, not just in terms of visibility but also for the compensation of athletes,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to the opportunities that will come with it.”
Johnson praised her dedication
Michael Johnson, the four-time Olympic gold medalist and founder of the Grand Slam Track League, shared why McLaughlin-Levrone was his first signing. Johnson praised her dedication and likened her focus to his own during his career. “I see a lot of myself in Sydney. I was often criticized for not showing much personality during races, as I was always fully focused on the task at hand. But once the race was over, people got to see the real me. Sydney is similar in that regard,” Johnson said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
As McLaughlin-Levrone gears up for the new season, she remains committed to her rigorous training, recovery, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. With the 2025 season and the Grand Slam Track League on the horizon, she is poised to continue making an impact in the world of track and field.