The track world buzzed with anticipation as the entry lists for the 2025 Toyota USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships dropped. Among the names, one stood out like a lightning bolt: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the two-time Olympic 400m hurdles champion, but entered the flat 400m, not her signature hurdles event. Well, this was not just a routine entry; it was a bold pivot for a woman who’s rewritten record books with a hurdles time of 50.37 seconds at the Paris 2024 Olympics. But is it a new thing for her?

Her decision to tackle the flat 400m at nationals, set for July 31 to August 3, echoed her 2023 choice to step away from hurdles and dominate the flat race with a blistering 48.74—the second-fastest ever by an American woman. But why would a hurdler of her caliber, who hasn’t lost a 400m hurdles race since 2019, make this switch again?

Well, as it turns around, this is absolutely not the first time Sydney has switched to flat 400m. Back in 2023, she not only ran flat 400 but also won it through. As she dropped this surprising news, Sydney’s past words about faith and purpose roared back to life, resonating like a victory lap. In 2023, after scorching the track to win the flat 400m at the U.S. Championships with that 48.74, she didn’t just bask in the glory of being four hundredths of a second shy of Sanya Richards-Ross’s American record. Instead, she turned the spotlight upward.

“For a long time, track was who I was,” she shared on the Sports Spectrum Podcast that November. “But now more than ever, first and foremost I’m a child of God, and track is not who I am, it’s what I do.”

Those words hit hard, revealing a woman whose identity isn’t tied to medals or world records, six in the 400m hurdles, mind you, but to something deeper. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone spoke of God’s grace, saying, “The peace He brings surpasses that of any outcome, and the joy of running for Him, makes these moments that much sweeter.” What does it mean for an athlete of her stature to anchor her career in faith like this?

Faith over hurdles: The spiritual shift behind Sydney’s bold move

Sydney’s journey hasn’t been all smooth strides. She admitted on that podcast to wrestling with her faith, once living a “very secular life” that left her unfulfilled. “I could vividly hear God say, ‘Are you done? Are you ready to give your life over to Me?’” she recalled. “I would literally tell Him ‘no’ because I wasn’t sure… God doesn’t force you to love Him.”

That raw honesty makes Sydney’s 2025 decision feel like a full-circle moment. Her 2023 flat 400m win wasn’t just a race; it was a testament to surrendering control, trusting a bigger plan. Now, as she eyes the flat 400m again, with a 2025 season best 49.43, she’s up against fierce competition like Aaliyah Butler. Can her faith-fueled mindset carry her to another title?

The stakes are high for Sydney at nationals. The top three in the 400m likely secure spots for the World Championships in Tokyo. Her coach, Bobby Kersee, hasn’t locked in her event for worlds, but her 2023 words suggest she’s running for more than just a podium. “God’s grace is sufficient for each and every day,” she said, a reminder that her peace doesn’t hinge on the clock or the scoreboard. As she lines up in 2025, will that grace propel her to redefine her legacy once more?