Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone may have the numbers to rank among the most followed American track and field stars—boasting 1.5 million followers on Instagram and nearly 168.5k on X (formerly Twitter)—but when it comes to activity, she’s notably quiet. While many elite athletes flood their timelines with race updates, training clips, and brand deals, Sydney has chosen a different path: silence. But that silence hasn’t come without reason.
Behind Sydney’s low-key social media presence lies a deeper story—one shaped by experiences both old and new. In her early years, just as she was preparing to make her Olympic debut, the pressures of public scrutiny weighed heavily. With expectations soaring, the digital world often brought more anxiety than inspiration. And in more recent times, that weight hasn’t eased.
The glare of constant opinions, criticism, and the mental toll of navigating fame have continued to shape her cautious relationship with online platforms. Still, something has shifted.
In the latest episode of the Ready Set Go podcast, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone opened up about her relationship with social media, sharing both her past struggles and future intentions. During the conversation, host Rodney Green highlighted her massive online following, which Sydney acknowledged. However, she also pointed to a valuable lesson she’s learned over time. Reflecting on her past, Sydney explained, “Me and my husband have talked quite a bit about this. I think there was a period there where I was so full-fledged into all of that to the point where I mean the more you’re on social media, the more you give yourself to the world, the more susceptible you are to what that brings.” But what led her to gain such a lesson?
Credit: Instagram/ Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone went on to admit that, at one point, she had made herself almost too accessible online, opening the door to both admiration and harsh criticism. She recalled how, during her more active days on social media, she often did live sessions with fans. But that came to an abrupt end after a negative experience. “I stopped the lives because someone literally panned me on live one day,” she explained. “So that’s why I was like, ‘All right, we’re done. Okay, you guys took this privilege away; we’re not doing this anymore.’” Despite the decision to step back, Sydney hasn’t completely closed the door. In a more relaxed moment during the podcast, while chatting further with Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green, she hinted at a shift in mindset, sharing a bit of exciting news that suggests she might be ready to return to the social space, this time with a fresh perspective and new plans.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone might just be gearing up for a social media comeback—but this time, it’ll be on her own terms. In a heartfelt moment during her conversation with Rodney Green and Justin Gatlin, the 25-year-old Olympic champion opened up about where she stands today. Reflecting on her journey, Sydney shared, “I think I’ve reached a place where I feel like okay, I feel like I’m in a good place, I feel like we’ve accomplished quite a bit. Obviously, there’s still more to go and there’s more we’re working towards; however, I do feel like I can open up a bit more and share different sides of me, and I feel like I’m in a place career-wise and personally to where I feel comfortable doing that.” She credited both personal growth and career milestones for giving her the confidence to reconnect with fans online. And she won’t be doing it alone.
Alongside her husband, Andre Levrone, Sydney is considering a thoughtful return to the digital space—this time with more clarity, more balance, and a clear boundary in place. Gone are the days of unfiltered access and vulnerability that once left her exposed before her first Olympic appearance in Rio.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone had to face unthinkable events before her mega test
In Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone opened up about the painful experience that first pushed her away from social media. It was early 2016, just as her athletic journey was gaining momentum. A betrayal by her high school boyfriend left her heartbroken—but what followed was even more damaging.
After their breakup, the girl he had cheated with sent Sydney a message on Instagram. But instead of remorse, it was filled with cruelty and mockery. “Though I had been wronged,” Sydney wrote, “the antagonist made me out to be the bad guy.” Soon, the drama spilled into the open. Whispered hallway gossip turned into brutal online attacks. Classmates took shots at her character, and the story of her heartbreak became everyone’s entertainment.
Credit: Instagram
The fear and emotional toll of that moment left a mark. It wasn’t just about a breakup—it was about losing a sense of safety in the digital world. That’s why, even as she rose to the Olympic stage, Sydney chose silence over social media noise.
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