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At 22 years old, Sydney McLaughlin is undeniably queen of the World Athletics Championships being held in Oregon. She won the 400 meter hurdles with a spectacular time of just 50’68” – reaching the limits of what is humanly possible. But the best part is her story. She’s a woman of faith who knows who is really responsible for her achievement.
This is the post she left on Instagram, right after setting a new record:
“So let us come BOLDLY to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” – Hebrews 4:16
Praise. His. Name.
What a beautiful day yesterday was. Preparing for this meet, the core of my team was centered around faith and belief. The amount of prayer coupled with hard work was divinely culminated in 50.68 seconds. By the grace of God, we accomplished our goal. Thank you so much to my coach, my husband, my team, my family, and all of my supporters. Let’s continue pushing the bounds of the sport, because with God, all things are possible! God bless.
A Christian witness
This kind of post is nothing new for McLaughlin. The whole athletics world knows her strong religious convictions. She shows them every time she gets a medal, every time she sets a world record.
McLaughlin’s family is Christian and her parents raised her in a household of faith. She graduated from Union Catholic Regional High School, where the values of compassion, community, honesty, respect and responsibility came to take first place in her life.
During a ceremony at Union Catholic celebrating McLaughlin’s Olympic gold, she told the assembled crowd, “Over the past year of my life, I realized that success is not measured by the amount of money, medals or followers that you may have, true fulfillment comes from obedience to God.” Among all those who rejoiced in her recent victory was a religious sister, Sister Percylee Hart, the principal of Union Catholic.
That humility that drives McLaughlin, upon breaking a world record, to remember God and give thanks, is truly admirable. She has turned her message of victory on social media into a prayer of praise.
And today we celebrate...