Heartbroken by Ex, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Was Left Feeling Insecure and Craving Attention in 2019
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s journey to greatness hasn’t been a smooth sprint. It’s been a blend of triumphs and trials, glitter and heartbreak. While the world celebrated her athletic prowess, she endured personal struggles that shaped her into the remarkable woman she is today.
In 2016, Sydney faced not one but two emotionally devastating moments. On the track, she narrowly lost to Dalilah Muhammad at the World Athletics Championships by a razor-thin margin of 0.07 seconds. Off the track, a painful chapter from her personal life unfolded. Hoping to rekindle a relationship with her high school boyfriend, she flew to watch one of his college football games. She believed their love could be reignited, especially after hearing that he’d told his mom he wanted to marry her someday. But when she mustered the courage to ask, “Do you think there’s any possibility of us ever getting back together?” his response crushed her: “I don’t think so.”
Flying home, Sydney was left with the gut-wrenching thought: “Did I just lose twice?” The emotional weight of heartbreak collided with her competitive loss, creating an overwhelming sense of failure. Despite her mounting list of accomplishments—fame, fortune, and a growing Instagram following—she couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness. By 2019, she began to confront the reality of why success alone couldn’t fill the void inside her.
In her candid memoir *Far Beyond Gold*, Sydney opened up about her struggles with self-worth and the unhealthy pursuit of validation. Social media, she admitted, became both a crutch and a source of her insecurities. The constant chase for likes and approval felt exhilarating at first but ultimately left her drained. “I also hadn’t yet learned the healthy view of self, worth, and purpose that is found in Christ,” she confessed. This lack of spiritual grounding made her vulnerable to both affirmation and rejection.
With over 1.5 million Instagram followers, Sydney’s profile became a double-edged sword. It was a platform to showcase her athletic feats but also a mirror reflecting her perceived shortcomings. She often compared herself to the women she saw online, questioning, “Am I not a real woman? Do I lack what makes a true woman?” These thoughts drove her to pour hours into perfecting her appearance.
“I learned how to do my makeup, and I learned how to do it well,” she shared. What began as a casual pastime soon turned into an obsession with crafting the perfect image. Photoshoots that once took minutes became multi-hour productions aimed at building her “brand.” But deep down, Sydney knew the curated posts were more about masking her insecurities than marketing herself.
Through it all, Sydney’s story is not just one of heartbreak but also of healing. Her journey from insecurity to self-acceptance reminds us all that even the most celebrated champions face struggles off the track. For Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, true fulfillment came not from external accolades but from a deeper understanding of self-worth and purpose.
