Yes, before going pro, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone attended college. In 2017, she became a member of the University of Kentucky’s track and field team upon her enrollment. McLaughlin’s talent was evident at Kentucky, where she immediately established herself as a prominent figure in collegiate athletics.
“My year here was hard, I’m not going to act like it wasn’t as it is for many college athletes all over the country but I wouldn’t change it for the world honestly. I would not be the woman I am if I had not attended the UK.”
She made headlines at the 2018 NCAA Division I Championships and broke the NCAA 400m hurdles record during her freshman year at the SEC Championships. In spite of her achievements, McLaughlin left college after just one year to become a professional, accepting a sponsorship offer from New Balance and giving up her chance to continue competing in the NCAA.
Her remarkable talent, having already competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics at the age of 16, drove her choice to turn pro at 19.
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