Olympic Gold Medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Shares Faith Journey at Pepperdine

The world-record holder in the 400-meter hurdles discussed overcoming fear with faith at the university's President Speaker Series.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 12:39am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a track and field competition, with sharp geometric shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette, conceptually representing the mental and spiritual transformation that has driven McLaughlin-Levrone's athletic triumphs.McLaughlin-Levrone's faith journey has fueled her success on the track, inspiring the Pepperdine community with a message of overcoming fear through trust in God's grace.Malibu Today

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, recently joined the Pepperdine community at a special President Speaker's Series/Well event to discuss how her philosophy of faith fuels her goals on and off the track. McLaughlin-Levrone traced her faith testimony through the different stages of her prolific career, revealing how she overcame fear and anxiety by finding her identity in Christ rather than her athletic accomplishments.

Why it matters

McLaughlin-Levrone's testimony resonated with the Pepperdine audience, particularly the undergraduate students, as she shared how she learned to defy fear in favor of faith. Her message of building mental stability through a foundation in God's grace and mercy provided inspiration for students navigating their own challenges in life.

The details

At the event, McLaughlin-Levrone discussed how she initially struggled with fear and anxiety despite her early success, including qualifying for the Rio Olympics at age 16. It wasn't until she committed herself to Jesus Christ while training for the 2020 Olympics that she found renewed purpose and freedom in her athletic endeavors. Since then, she has gone on to win four Olympic gold medals and four World Championship gold medals, setting two world records.

  • At age 6, McLaughlin-Levrone competed in and won her first organized race.
  • At age 16, she qualified to compete in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Summer Olympics.
  • While training for the 2020 Olympics, McLaughlin-Levrone committed herself to Jesus Christ.
  • She has competed in two Summer Olympics (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024) and two World Championships since her faith transformation.

The players

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

A four-time Olympic gold medalist and the world-record holder in the 400-meter hurdles.

Jim Gash

The president of Pepperdine University, who interviewed McLaughlin-Levrone during the event.

Andre Levrone

McLaughlin-Levrone's husband, who introduced her to the Gospel of mercy and freedom that fueled her triumphs on the track.

Clarissa Lalin

A Seaver College nursing student who was fascinated by McLaughlin-Levrone's resilience and mental stability.

Waves Worship

Pepperdine's campus worship collective that performed praise songs at the event.

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What they’re saying

“'I grew up believing that God is a God of wrath, a God of rules, and I was always terrified of being on his bad side. I was always living in fear, but hearing of God's mercy—of the love and grace he extends through his son Jesus Christ and the freedom that he gives through his sacrifice—I learned that I am enough. I learned that it's okay because he paid for it all, and I'm not my past; I'm not my mistakes; I'm not a race, a win or a loss; I'm not a medal . . . The freedom that [these realizations] gave me completely transformed everything in my life.'”

— Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Olympic Gold Medalist

“'It was exciting to hear about her resilience. I was curious about how she trained her mind to go through so much athletic training despite wins and losses because, as a college student, we have so much going on in our day-to-day lives. It was fascinating to hear how Sydney built that mental stability through faith.'”

— Clarissa Lalin, Seaver College Nursing Student

What’s next

The President's Speaker Series/Well event featuring Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is available to watch on Pepperdine's YouTube channel.

The takeaway

McLaughlin-Levrone's testimony of overcoming fear and anxiety through her faith in Christ provided inspiration for the Pepperdine community, particularly the students, on building mental stability and finding purpose beyond their achievements.