American track sensation Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone recently shared the challenges her father, Willie McLaughlin, faces with a serious health condition. Known as one of the fastest women ever in the 400m and 400m hurdles, McLaughlin-Levrone dazzled at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, seizing two gold medals and further cementing her legacy among the sport’s all-time greats.
McLaughlin-Levrone’s rise to the top was fostered by Willie, who was a former three-time All-American track star himself. He served as Sydney’s first and primary coach.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone On Her Father’s Condition
McLaughlin-Levrone was coached by Willie until middle school, eventually working with high school coaches, notably Mike McCabe at Union Catholic High. Willie competed primarily at Manhattan College (now Manhattan University) in New York City during his collegiate track career in the early 1980s.
During a recent interview, McLaughlin-Levrone spoke candidly about Willie’s battle with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic heart condition that thickens the heart muscle.
After managing the illness for more than twenty years, Willie underwent a life-saving heart transplant in 2021.
“I mean, it definitely was alarming to a degree for sure,” McLaughlin-Levrone said. “Just because, there was so much I didn’t know. And I think the unknown can always be a bit concerning, and for me, it was about listening and learning as much as I could, as much as he was learning, so that I could be better prepared for what could be the future.”
“I appreciate the openness of it now, and just being able to talk about it and ask questions… Just having those check-in opportunities, to know how we can be supporting him,” she added.
McLaughlin-Levrone mentioned she has not yet been tested for HCM, acknowledging that uncertainty is a natural response. Willie credited his family’s unwavering support as vital to his journey and encouraged others facing the same diagnosis to seek connection and share their experiences.
McLaughlin-Levrone On Motherhood
McLaughlin-Levrone has been married to Andre Levrone Jr., a former NFL wide receiver, since 2022. This year, the couple announced they will be expecting their first child together, something they have been discussing for many years.
“For me, motherhood is an opportunity to grow within myself in so many different ways. I love the chance to impart the things that I’ve learned and the wisdom that I received, onto the next generation. Being able to watch that in my own kids and see them grow up into their own individual adults … I’m really excited,” she stated.
With no major competitions like the Olympics or World Championships on the 2026 calendar, McLaughlin-Levrone is set to enjoy a well-deserved pause from the relentless pace of elite track and field.
