- 5 months ago
Olympic Gold Medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone sat down with Forbes to discuss her criteria for long-term brand partnerships based on authenticity and the necessity of professionalizing track and field infrastructure. McLaughlin-Levrone also discussed her approach to financial management within the short career arc of a professional athlete.
00:00 The Strategic Role Of Rest In Peak Performance
04:56 Faith As A Foundation For Professional Stability
06:48 How McLaughlin-Levrone Aligns Personal Values With Global Brand Partnerships
11:15 How To Navigate The Transition Into Professional Athletics
18:11 The Pursuit Of Technical Excellence And Innovation
25:36 Strategic Career Pivots And The Growth Mindset
29:50 Building A Sustainable The Future For Track And Field
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00:00 The Strategic Role Of Rest In Peak Performance
04:56 Faith As A Foundation For Professional Stability
06:48 How McLaughlin-Levrone Aligns Personal Values With Global Brand Partnerships
11:15 How To Navigate The Transition Into Professional Athletics
18:11 The Pursuit Of Technical Excellence And Innovation
25:36 Strategic Career Pivots And The Growth Mindset
29:50 Building A Sustainable The Future For Track And Field
Subscribe to FORBES: https://www.youtube.com/user/Forbes?sub_confirmation=1
Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:
https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript
Stay Connected
Forbes newsletters: https://newsletters.editorial.forbes.com
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com
Forbes covers the intersection of entrepreneurship, wealth, technology, business and lifestyle with a focus on people and success.
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SportsTranscript
00:00And until somebody runs 0.01, there's always something you can do better, you know?
00:05And I love trying to find those little things.
00:08Pushing the bounds of what's possible has always just fascinated me.
00:14Hello, everyone. I'm Alex York, and I'm here with Sydney McLaughlin-Lavroni.
00:18Thank you so much for joining me today.
00:20Thanks for having me. I'm excited.
00:21So you've had an insane career as an Olympian, as a professional runner, as an author, so many other things.
00:28You are currently in a bit of an off-season from track, at least.
00:31How have you been spending your days lately?
00:33I've been resting. I've been eating.
00:36Just enjoying, honestly, standing still, which is really rare for us.
00:41And, yeah, it's the time where you just kind of get to let your body reset from all of the hard training.
00:46Totally. What's a day in the life like when you are in, like, an intense training period versus now that you can, like, have a bit of a moment to yourself?
00:53Yeah. I mean, training, you know, normally takes place early in the morning.
00:57So I'm waking up, eating breakfast, going to train on the track for about two hours or so, and then get a little bit of a break for lunch and then go into the weight room.
01:05After that, you get a little bit of a break before recovery, massage, ice bath, whatever other kind of therapy you need.
01:12And then you eat dinner, go to sleep, and repeat the whole cycle.
01:15So this is very different just getting to wake up whenever, eat whatever.
01:20If I want to go for a walk, that's about as much exercise as I get.
01:25So it really just is taking a break from that routine and, you know, kind of letting my whole nervous system calm down.
01:32Yeah. Every part of our, like, mind, body, soul, I feel like, needs those moments of, like, rest and recovery,
01:37which I'm sure is difficult to, like, come to terms with when you are on such a fast-paced, like, schedule and, like, training regimen.
01:44And is there anything, like, mentally that you either remind yourself of or, like, any tactics that you use to really allow your, like you said, nervous system to truly take advantage of those restful times?
01:53My coach always says rest is not a bad word.
01:56And I think as just, like, a competitor and an athlete, you're always trying to find more to do.
02:01And it's very hard to turn that switch off when the season's done.
02:04But I think I've learned to appreciate that you actually also can't compete your best if you don't know how to rest.
02:09And so it really just is learning how to turn your phone off, learning how to sit still, read a book, take a nap, do the things that I always say in season, like, oh, I wish I could do this, but, like, actually forcing myself to do it.
02:23Any favorite books you've read recently?
02:24Oh, good question.
02:25I'm reading 1984 right now.
02:28I'm still working my way through.
02:29Very fascinating concept.
02:31So that's one that's on my docket.
02:33Okay, cool.
02:33So fiction.
02:34Yeah.
02:35Love it.
02:35I feel like I need, like, a little bit of the fiction, like, in my life.
02:39I do read a lot of, like, nonfiction books, but I feel like I need a little bit of fiction to be, like, I truly need to remove myself from, like, the world that we're living in right now and just, like, allow my brain to detach from what's going on.
02:48I feel like that's, like, my number one mental health hack is, like, read fiction books, everybody.
02:53I want to talk about your book that you wrote in 2024.
02:56This kind of story of yours shares everything from, like, finding yourself, your faith, your career, the ups and downs of, like, all you've gone through.
03:04A big topic of it is identity and, like, finding out how you identify, which I think can be both, like, very easy and very difficult when you are exceptional at something to both, like, identify as that because it's what you're known for and what you do all the time, but not maybe feeling, like, too tied to it or, like, it's kind of hard to escape it at some points.
03:23How did that conversation of identity come about in your mind?
03:27Like, when did you first identify as a runner or an athlete?
03:30How has that kind of taken shape over time?
03:32Yeah, I think from a very early age, I just saw how being successful on the track brought validation.
03:39And I think for someone who was really searching for who she was, that was one place that I felt accepted.
03:47And so I really did start to attach myself and my identity to running because that's where I felt the most loved.
03:54And it became very unhealthy.
03:56You know, at the end of the day, what you do can't always satisfy you in your heart and in your soul.
04:03And so especially in a sport where you're not going to win every race, not every day is going to be the best.
04:07You're not always going to break every single record.
04:09My foundation of that being my identity was always shifting and changing.
04:14And so that was a very unsettling place to live.
04:17And it wasn't until COVID that I really kind of came to the end of myself and was like, who am I?
04:24Where am I trying to go?
04:25What is the point of my life?
04:26And that's where my faith really just came into the picture.
04:30And God was so kind to reveal that to me.
04:32And that's what the book is about, just how he set me free from being tied to, honestly, at the root of my identity issues was fear, fear of not being enough.
04:42And yeah, it completely shifted and changed my perspective on my career, my life, who I was, where I'm going.
04:48And now I live a life that honors and glorifies him.
04:52How has faith and like finding your footing in faith or just like your value system in this world impacted your career,
04:58not just like on the track, but in terms of the partnerships that you make and the people that you surround yourself with, what has that journey looked like?
05:05It's been interesting.
05:06I mean, at the end of the day, I'm very firm on what I believe.
05:10Obviously, I try to carry that with grace and, you know, not be belligerent about it.
05:15But at the same time, I do stand firm on what I believe is true.
05:19And there's at times partners that maybe don't want to align with that, and that's okay.
05:24And I think I've learned to be content with those who support me.
05:27I'm grateful for them.
05:29I'm going to continue to walk this path and just stay true to what I believe.
05:34And at times, you know, that's very countercultural, I think.
05:37It's not always the norm.
05:39But I've also been content with knowing that certain opportunities are going to be – they're going to pass me by because of that.
05:48And I think I've had to be content with knowing that what's for me is not going to pass me by.
05:52Have there been any specific instances where you feel like your value system has come at odds with, like, an opportunity being presented or, you know, any of these experiences that you've gone through?
06:01And how have you kind of kept moving through that?
06:04Yeah, there's definitely been things that have come up where I just have to honestly assess, like, you know, would this kind of represent what it is I stand for or would it be at odds?
06:15Would people look at this and be confused by what this represents versus what I stand for?
06:21And there's been times where we had to say no and walk away.
06:24And I think, you know, if you would have asked me 10 years ago, I would have probably taken every opportunity out there.
06:29And are those in terms of, like, brand deals or partnerships, endorsements?
06:31What does that mean?
06:32Yeah, brand deals, partnerships, even just being in certain rooms with certain people.
06:37And there's a lot that me and my husband have to discern and say maybe that's not the wisest for us.
06:43And just be content with our decisions that we make as a married couple and standing firm in that.
06:48You mentioned, too, in kind of finding, like, this version of yourself that it doesn't really matter if you win or lose or break records or not.
06:55But you've done a lot of winning and you've done a lot of breaking records.
06:58I want to back up, like, prior to you having set these, you know, and achieve these, like, very, you know, highly sought after goals for yourself.
07:07What was, like, that version of Sydney on the track?
07:11How would you describe, like, how you showed up to a meet or a competition in those early days versus now?
07:17I was a mess.
07:18I was a mess, honestly.
07:20I didn't sleep the night before.
07:22I didn't eat enough.
07:23I was constantly paranoid.
07:25Just what was going to happen.
07:27Because there's just so much you can't control.
07:29And I think for that to be my identity, I was trying to control as much as possible because I did not want to lose.
07:36I thought people would not love me anymore.
07:38They would leave me.
07:39I wouldn't have friends.
07:40I wouldn't get the validation.
07:41I wouldn't on social media.
07:42All these kinds of things.
07:43And so it was miserable, honestly.
07:47And I think now I can control my nerves a lot better.
07:50I understand that I'm nervous because I care about the result.
07:55But ultimately, it's not a crippling anxiety like it once was.
07:59And so I've learned to be able to kind of channel that into energy to use because I'm excited instead of kind of letting it defeat me.
08:07You went through your first Olympic trials at 16 years old, went to your first Olympics at 17.
08:12That's an insanely young age to be put on a global stage and then, like, you know, have to, like you said, come into it with so much, like, anxiety or nervous energy and compete.
08:23How would you, like, advise yourself then if you knew now how to move forward in those instances?
08:29Like, what were those, especially when it came to the Olympics?
08:32Like, how would, what is a piece of advice that you would give your 16-year-old self before that experience?
08:38Wonderful question.
08:39I would have said learn as much as you can.
08:42Nobody's anticipating or expecting you to win.
08:45Just soak up as much as you can.
08:47I think I was even just so afraid of being there that I stayed in my room.
08:52I didn't go explore.
08:53I didn't talk to people.
08:54I wish I would have just been like, listen, regardless of what happens, I'm going to soak up as much as I can.
09:00And really get this experience under my belt so that when I come back, I know what I'm trying to do.
09:07Because I think, yeah, I was so, like, why am I here?
09:11That it kind of is a blur, you know.
09:14I think a lot of people can relate to that.
09:16Like, regardless of what industry or career you're in, you get an opportunity.
09:19And, yeah, you look back and you're like, I don't even remember being there because it was such an anxiety-provoking experience for me.
09:26What is something that you feel like you learned in those first games that you took with you in the games following?
09:32Good question.
09:33I think I learned just how serious the professional track and field world is.
09:37I remember on that first race, I was like, yeah, it's the first round.
09:40You know, like, everyone's kind of just going to work their way through.
09:42And I was like, oh, no.
09:44These women came to run.
09:45You know, this is their livelihood.
09:47This is what they've trained for their whole lives.
09:48And it just really showed me what it was like to be a professional, just how serious it is.
09:54And there was so much I had to learn.
09:56I'm sure they were all at the food court, but I was eating McDonald's because it was in the village, stuff like that.
10:01And so it was my first real exposure to the professional world.
10:07And there was a lot I still had to learn.
10:09Was that a turning point for you or, like, a pivot in your mind of, like, I am now a professional athlete?
10:13Or was there another moment that you feel you really flipped the switch in your mind of, like, I am one of these professional women that I feel I'm surrounded by?
10:20Yeah, well, Rio was my first Olympics.
10:22But then I had to finish my senior year of high school.
10:25So I went back.
10:26And then I did one year at the University of Kentucky.
10:28And then after that, I turned pro.
10:30So I think 2019 was my first year as a professional, really, in that world.
10:36And that was where I was like, okay, like, I'm with the people who do this, you know.
10:41And I need to figure out how I'm going to navigate my career and set myself up to be successful.
10:48Can I ask, going back to your senior year, what was that experience like?
10:52Was it people, like, asking you for photos in the hallway?
10:55Or, like, how did you relate then to the other people that were in your class?
10:58It was a – it's not something anyone can prepare you for.
11:02It's just, yeah, part of it is you're trying to go back and be normal.
11:06But life just isn't normal, I think, even – not just, like, other students, but, like, teachers, faculty, and stuff like that.
11:14And so you – especially with someone who has, like, struggling with identity, your whole identity now becomes this experience you've had.
11:23And at 17 years old, that's not really a healthy place to be.
11:26You now have Instagram followers and professional athletes in your DMs and you're trying to finish your senior year and, you know, you're trying to figure out friend groups.
11:36It's just – it was a lot.
11:38And I probably didn't handle it the best, to be honest.
11:40I probably was a little cocky.
11:42I probably was a little big-headed, which if I could go back, I'd change it for sure.
11:47But it's just a weird space that I wasn't anticipating being in at 17.
11:52Yeah, how could anybody anticipate being in that, you know, experience?
11:56Going then into your first year of college, what was that like kind of leveling up from, you know, a high school athlete having this Olympic experience and then coming to a collegiate team?
12:06And why was it only one year for you?
12:08Yeah, I definitely wanted to get the college experience.
12:11I could have gone pro right out of high school, but my mom especially was like, I just want you to get that, you know, go to college, even if it's for one year, be on that team, compete at NCAAs, which I'm really grateful for.
12:24I met some amazing friends there that I'm still friends with today.
12:27And, you know, track is a very individual sport.
12:31So having one more opportunity to really be on a team was really fun.
12:34And, yeah, I mean, that was that next step from high school up to, you know, there were pros training at the University of Kentucky.
12:43So even getting to watch them from a distance, see how they train, see how their professional lives were, was just another taste of what I was going to be stepping into.
12:53So it was a lot of observation.
12:56Moving then into the pro league, what were some things that surprised you?
13:00You know, you mentioned there and also at the, you know, your first Olympics, kind of getting a taste for like the mentality and the training and all these things.
13:07But were there any like major surprises once you stepped into those shoes?
13:11It's so interesting how track and field, especially, you have to figure it out for yourself.
13:18It's a lot of it is you have to figure out where you're going to train, who you're going to train with, where you're going to recover, where you're going to practice, where you're going to live.
13:25It's not like, you know, there's a league per se where all of these things are kind of provided for you.
13:31It's very, very individual.
13:34And that was a big shock to me.
13:36So I picked up and moved to Los Angeles.
13:38I had to find my coach, my weight coach, my trainer, therapists.
13:42Everything was on me.
13:44And there's a lot of athletes who, you know, kind of struggle trying to put all those things together.
13:50I also think track and field doesn't have a professional league right now.
13:55It's very much you can have amateurs running against the professionals.
14:00You can have collegians running against the professionals.
14:02And so the waters are very murky at the moment.
14:05And I'm hoping that's something over the next few years that we can kind of sort and figure out.
14:09I definitely want to get into, like, what that future looks like and what your vision for it is, what your hopes for it are.
14:14But in terms of finding those people that you surround yourself with, your coach, your trainers, all those sorts of things, I talk with a lot of founders in my job.
14:22And one, like, big conversation we have is finding the right co-founder or, like, making that first hire.
14:27What did you look for in people that you ultimately wanted to work with and, like, bring into uplifting you and your career?
14:34Because that's so critical to have that, like, trust and the good relationship.
14:37What was it like for you to find those correct people for you?
14:40Yeah, I think the biggest thing, number one, is going to be are they going to support me even on my worst day?
14:46And then after that, I need someone who's going to push and challenge me when I don't want to challenge myself.
14:52Because I think the mental hurdle sometimes of professional sports is a big one.
14:57And you need the right coach that's going to be able in those moments to talk you through that.
15:02And so whenever I'm looking for people to work with, I want to work with people who want to be the best at what they do and who are going to push me to be the best at what I do.
15:11Chemistry is huge.
15:12Making sure we can all work together.
15:14And then, yeah, just feeling like I can really trust them even at my hardest moments is kind of that criteria.
15:21How do you identify that, especially, like, in the first couple times meeting them?
15:25Like, is it a trial period you'll go through with them?
15:27Or how do you build that and feel confident and, like, yes, these are checking off the boxes that I want them to?
15:32Yeah, I mean, you know, there's been seasons where you may work with someone for a season or two, whether it be a therapist, a coach, a trainer, and it just doesn't work out.
15:40But I think the people that have kind of stuck through and are kind of like glue right now, it's just been tested through time and going through trials together and really growing that bond as we've been through highs and lows.
15:53And I think I have that core group of people that, you know, I'm halfway, maybe more through my career.
16:00I just want to finish with them because we've had some wonderful times.
16:03Yeah, that's really special to find that.
16:05But moving on from, like, these first couple, you know, moments or years of yours as a professional to now having broken, like, record after record.
16:13I think you've broken the 400-meter hurdles record, like, what, six times, the world record, which is crazy.
16:18How, once you've done that once, do you continue to do it again and again?
16:22Like, what pushes you to keep going when you're kind of, like, the best at what you do?
16:28Just the pursuit of excellence.
16:29I think, you know, I love the idea of improving.
16:34And until somebody runs 0.01, there's always something you can do better, you know.
16:39And I love trying to find those little things.
16:41Pushing the bounds of what's possible has always just fascinated me.
16:46I love seeing people in their prime of whatever their profession is pursuing excellence.
16:52And so for me, there's always something I can do better, whether it be a hurdle takeoff, whether it be my start, whether it be my finish, my strength, my speed.
16:58And I love finding those milliseconds and adding them up.
17:02Where do you think the threshold is for, like, how fast people can get?
17:05Because, to your point, like, someone can't be zero seconds fast to get from one point to another.
17:11Do you think about that?
17:12Like, how are you and the track community in general thinking about, like, what the limit of a human body is?
17:18So it's fascinating because it's not just the human body now.
17:22We've seen technology evolve as well, whether it be the surfaces of tracks are getting faster or the shoe technology is getting faster, the spikes.
17:30All these different things add up where you look, you know, 40 years ago and they were still running so fast.
17:36But they didn't have all the advancements we have now.
17:38And so even as humans continue to get faster, I look at even the technological aspect of it.
17:44And who knows what the limit is?
17:46Who knows where we're going to be in 20, 30, 40 years from now?
17:50But I'm just hopeful that I can continue to push right now what the boundaries are.
17:55And I'm sure somebody's going to come and break those records and run even faster.
17:59Yeah, it's mind-boggling to think, like, what else can contribute to someone getting faster and faster.
18:04You mentioned there, too, like, gear being part of it.
18:07Let's talk about your brand partnerships, your endorsements.
18:10You've been with New Balance since 2018.
18:12And they won you in a bidding war, essentially.
18:16What was it like to make that first long-term partnership agreement?
18:20What made New Balance the right partner when many other athletics companies were kind of wanting to bring you on to their team?
18:26Yeah, I mean, the shoe company, for most track athletes, that is kind of your main endorsement.
18:31And so that was a big one.
18:32I mean, your feet are everything in this sport.
18:35And so I'd had a relationship with them since high school.
18:38They'd always treated my high school team very well.
18:41And, you know, going through that process, I think at 18 years old, part of you is, like, looking at all the glitz and glam and money.
18:49And there's all these new factors coming into play.
18:50But when it really came down to who's going to support me every single day, who's going to have my back,
18:55look, whose shoes are the best quality for my feet because I have feet issues, it was New Balance.
19:00And they've been like family ever since.
19:03I've never once looked back on that decision and thought anything different other than this is where I'm supposed to be.
19:09What has that partnership looked like since then?
19:11Like, I know you had a collection that came out with them.
19:14You know, just this week you held up the finishing line at the New York City Marathon.
19:19What other opportunities or, you know, both, like, from just a personal perspective, but also this, like, business and brand building perspective,
19:26do you feel like have really made a difference in, like, you as you're building your professional brand?
19:31Yeah.
19:31The collection we got to do in 2024 was so fun, just getting to put that together, show kind of my personal style.
19:37There's actually another one that we are working on that will come out next year, which is really exciting.
19:41And they definitely want to invest in helping me have my voice in the brand, which I appreciate.
19:48I'm excited to kind of continue showing my style through Capsule Collections, even, you know, doing some content with other brand ambassadors that they have.
19:57They have Coco, they have Otani.
20:00You know, there's so many different just amazing athletes under their umbrella.
20:04And so they are very supportive in anything that I want to pursue and do in the future, whether that be kids camps or charity work or whatever it is, really building who Sydney is and supporting that and backing that.
20:18So we actually just had a meeting about that, and I'm excited to kind of see what the future holds there.
20:22And you mentioned, too, that this is, like, for the shoes on your feet, but there are so many other, like, products and things in your life and bits of your life that you're sharing both, like, online through these different campaigns and whatnot.
20:32What are some other brand partnerships that you feel like have really spoken to, like, who you are and continuing to build this personal brand of yours, you know, over whether that's, like, the skincare brands or fashion?
20:42How else have you kind of brought more and more people and companies into this, you know, Sydney brand fold?
20:47Yeah, I mean, Neutrogena has been amazing for the past year, two years.
20:52Just even stepping them into the sports world, I mean, it's so huge.
20:56We train outside every single day.
20:57So being able to have a brand partnership that has sunscreen, great sunscreen, you know, when I'm out there two, three hours a day, has been really cool.
21:06Even Tag Heuer, the watch brand, I now have what I call the world record watch.
21:11I've worn it for all of them.
21:13And they just...
21:13That's, like, an iconic moment for them as well.
21:16It's amazing.
21:17It's amazing because they're all about time, you know, and precision and excellence and quality.
21:22And so we align on so many different things there that it's just really special to have brands that really speak to my personality as well, supporting me.
21:32And then, of course, Gatorade.
21:33Loved them since I was a kid, fueling athletes since who knows how long.
21:38And it's just really amazing to see how sports has allotted me all of these amazing friendships and partnerships.
21:45Two things that I think are interesting that you mentioned there are, one, like, for New Balance, for instance, like, bringing different athletes from different sports together.
21:54And then also for someone like Neutrogena, bringing a non-athletic brand into the, like, athletic industry.
22:00So much has changed within sports and the sports industry and sports marketing over the last couple of years.
22:05How have you seen it from your perspective just in terms of how these brands are becoming more innovative or more creative ways of, like, sharing who they and you as athletes are?
22:14Yeah, it's been really cool to see.
22:17I think social media plays a huge part in that for sure.
22:20But I really think they want to tell stories.
22:23And I think people really resonate with authenticity.
22:26And so whether it's a brand like a beauty brand or a fashion brand or a sports brand, they want to hear stories.
22:33And I think all of those brands really want to elevate you to a place where you can connect with the consumer.
22:38Because if you can't see yourself in the person representing the product, it's not likely that you're going to want to invest in it.
22:46And so authenticity, I think, is a huge part of that.
22:49I want to always be aligned with brands that are going to let me truly be me and share that.
22:55And, yeah, I think we're in an age where people can 100% show that through things like social media and their content, even if they maybe don't have the brand partnerships yet that they're looking for.
23:09From the business side of things, then how are you thinking about what brand deals are worth it?
23:12From your perspective, is it long-term versus short-term partnerships or equity deals versus these multi-year endorsement deals?
23:18What is that thought process or conversation like from your end?
23:22Yeah, it's definitely always quality over quantity.
23:25And it is long-term partnerships.
23:27I want people that are really going to go the distance with me.
23:30Obviously, sometimes one-off deals are great, you know, whether it's just a one-year or whatever it is.
23:36It just has to make sense.
23:37And I think that's the biggest criteria is does it make sense for us?
23:40Does it fit in time-wise, schedule-wise?
23:42Because it is a very busy time, so you don't want to overload your plate.
23:46But, yeah, at the end of the day, when it comes to the biggest brand deals, I'm looking for people who are really going to go the distance.
23:53Another thing I want to speak about is your kind of transition or expansion to 400-meter flat.
23:59Why did you decide to take on another event after having so much success in one area?
24:05What was that decision like?
24:06It was a very weighted decision.
24:09We had pursued in 2023 going after the 400.
24:12Unfortunately, I got injured, so we weren't able to finish the season.
24:17But after Tokyo, I mean, excuse me, after Paris, it really came back.
24:22And I was like, I think we just need to try this one more time.
24:26There's something about stepping out of your comfort zone into the unknown that is both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.
24:33And so for this year to be that challenge, there were times where I was like, are we making the right decision?
24:38Should we go back to the hurdles?
24:39You know, it was a very unsure thing, but it taught me so much about myself, so much about the sport, so much about the 400, which you would think is easier than the hurdles, but it's not.
24:50I promise it's not.
24:51It's so different.
24:53And I'm so grateful for sticking through that and seeing the fastest time we've seen in 40 years.
25:00So it just makes me excited for the future and knowing that, you know, there's just so much more there.
25:06It is a big decision, though, to, like, decide to pivot either away from or just to bring more things into a career that you've had and you've built for yourself.
25:14And I think, again, like this goes for any industry, any type of career.
25:18What are some questions that you asked yourself that other people can ask themselves to understand, like, whether a pivot or a new challenge is right for them in that phase of their life?
25:27Yeah, I think the first question I had to ask was, what would staying where I'm at truly gain me right now?
25:36And it's not that I can't come back to this, but I just don't know how much personal growth I'm going to see if I continue down this road.
25:44And I think I had to ask myself the question, like, what is keeping you from stepping out and doing something different?
25:49Is it fear or is it something else?
25:52Is it the opportunity is not there?
25:54The opportunity was there.
25:55It was really just a mental decision to take the leap.
25:58And so I think you just have to ask yourself those questions of, you know, do I see growth on the other side of this?
26:05Do I see challenge but also opportunity on the other side of this?
26:08And if the answer is yes and the opportunity to step into that is there, I say go for it.
26:13What has it been like just from a training perspective, like that mental training perspective as well, to step into this new event?
26:19Has there been any, like, major changes to your regimen or, like, how you are preparing for these things?
26:24You said it's, you know, very different one event to the other.
26:26So what has that looked like on, like, a practical level?
26:29Yeah.
26:29The 400 flat is just honestly a sprint.
26:33It's a long, long, long sprint.
26:35And so, you know, not as much hurdle training per se, but a lot more speed, a lot more strength, a lot more endurance, and which are things that I don't always get to do as much.
26:46You know, I got to run the 100 this year, which was really, really fun.
26:49I hope to do more of that.
26:50And it just kind of – you have to be a well-rounded athlete, I think, to run the 400.
26:54It's not just a sprint.
26:57It's also having a great cadence, having the strength to finish.
27:01And so you really have to work all sides of it.
27:03And I think I got the chance to do that this year.
27:05What is something about track and field that you feel like people don't understand or maybe, like, misunderstand or have misconceived, like, notions about?
27:13Because I think that it's obviously, you know, so many people participate in this, especially, like, growing up as a high school athlete, but it does not really get the same, like, global notoriety as other sporting events do.
27:24What do you feel like is a misconception that people have?
27:27That we only compete every four years, which is just not true.
27:30We have a world championships on the years before and after every Olympics and meets even that take place on those off years.
27:38And so we are always competing.
27:40We are always training hard.
27:41We have so many stars in our sport who just don't get the opportunities to shine just because we don't have that visibility right now, which I hope in the near future we can have the sport professionalized.
27:54I hope that we can have a wonderful lead-up to LA 2028 and just get the recognition we deserve because we compete just as hard as a lot of other sports and do amazing performances that just don't get what we deserve.
28:07What do you think in your, like, mind or what is your vision for what this sport can be in the future?
28:13I know that there are, like, some smaller professional events popping up, but to your point earlier, like, there is not a professional league yet.
28:19Where do you see this going in the future?
28:20Yeah, I mean, this year, you know, I know Grand Slam Track tried to pursue something a bit more professional, which I think the model of it really gave fans something exciting to look forward to.
28:31Obviously, there was issues on the back end there with the money side of things.
28:35And then, of course, you have other leagues like Athlos, which I think the marketing there was really great.
28:41But I think being able to have both of those things combined with both the structure and the marketing is something that's missing in track and field.
28:48And I hope that in the future, whatever that looks like, I mean, I don't have all the answers.
28:52I don't know who I need to talk to to try to get this sorted out.
28:56But, I mean, we have such talent.
28:58We have such stars.
28:59And there's so many amazing storylines that could be followed.
29:02And I just, I think right now we're missing that infrastructure to really set it up well.
29:08And, yeah.
29:09What's required there then?
29:10More money?
29:11More people behind this mission?
29:13Like, what do you feel like can kind of crack that code?
29:15Yeah, I think it's part of it's definitely the money to create, you know, a sustainable model that can function for years to come.
29:25I think there are many great ideas of what that can look like for the infrastructure-wise part of it.
29:31But I think, yeah, a lot of it comes down to money.
29:33A lot of it comes down to sponsorships.
29:35A lot of it comes down to viewership.
29:36We need a TV deal.
29:38We need people to be able to see these events.
29:40I think that's a huge part of it.
29:41You know, not just having to subscribe somewhere to watch, but can you turn on ESPN and see the track meet that's going on right now?
29:49Because when people know it's on, the Olympics, you know, they love track and field.
29:53It's one of the biggest sports to watch.
29:55I just don't think they have the access to us right now.
29:58A lot of women's sports in general has had, like, a major last couple of years.
30:03What has it looked like from your end?
30:05How do you feel like that's taking shape?
30:06You mentioned earlier, too, like, social media is playing a big part and, like, athletes getting noticed.
30:10What else do you feel like has come from this growth in women's sports across the board?
30:14I think I've seen a huge just interest from the next generation, which I'm excited to continue because there is a decline in girls participating in sports even at young ages.
30:25And so whether you go on to be a professional or not, I just want you to be active.
30:29I want you to get out there, make friends, learn social skills, learn how to work together, and I just want to continue to be that influence.
30:37I think we've seen a lot of that, at least personally.
30:39I've had just a lot of young girls come up to me and say things like that after Paris and stuff.
30:44So, you know, social media is great.
30:46I know there's always people watching.
30:48I just want to use that platform well, and I'm sure all the other athletes do also.
30:52Going into the future, what do you think is the, like, next phase of what track and field or women's sports will look like in terms of, you know, all these things that you're mentioning, the attendance, the participation.
31:07Like, what does your ideal next phase look like within the next, let's say, like, one to five years?
31:12Yeah, I mean, with track and field specifically, I really hope LA 2020 is that moment.
31:18Bringing the Olympics back to the States, back to LA, is going to be huge.
31:23And I think if it's done well and it's done right and there is infrastructure to follow that, we can be back like we were in the 1980s with the Jackie Joyner-Curses and the Florence Griffith-Joiners and all of the amazing athletes that came before us.
31:39And, yeah, I think there's going to be a lot of hype.
31:41There's going to be a lot of opportunity.
31:43So it's really just about capitalizing on that, and it's a big ramp up, so we're trying to make the most of it.
31:50From the business side of things, as you have obviously grown in your athletic career, more and more of these business opportunities have come about as well.
31:56Same with a lot of these other female athletes that we're looking at today.
32:00What is one bit of business advice that you wish you knew when you started that you have learned over time?
32:05Wonderful question.
32:06Our arc is short compared to an average job, and you have to be wise with your money while you have it.
32:14My earning potential in my career is large, but it's a short span of time.
32:20And so just trying to make the most of that, not driving myself crazy trying to chase every single deal, but being smart with my money.
32:27Am I investing? Am I saving?
32:28Am I doing things that are going to, in the long run, make the most sense financially because you can't be a professional athlete forever, and you don't know what the future holds after this career.
32:39So just really trying to think about those things early on instead of in your last one to two years of your career because, yeah, we don't know what comes next.
32:48Totally. That's a perfect segue into my last question for you.
32:51At Forbes, and especially at the Forbes 3rd Under 30 team, we talk a lot about youth and how youth plays a part in your career and what you can and maybe are prevented from doing depending on your age.
33:03How do you feel like youth has played a role in your career so far?
33:06Youth has been honestly a blessing, I would say, just because that means time is on my side.
33:13And I think making the most of the time I have means not being afraid to ask questions, not being afraid to not know the answer, and not being afraid to pivot if I need to because that means, you know, there's still opportunities that lie ahead before it's too late to make a change.
33:30Or pivot just if you want to.
33:31100%.
33:32If you want to try something new.
33:33Do it. Go for it.
33:34Thank you so much, Sydney, for joining me today.
33:36It was great to hear all about your, you know, incredible career so far and where you're headed in the future.
33:40Thank you so much for having me.
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