Coco Gauff gives a shout-out to Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone as Olympian hurdler wins Female Track Athlete of the Year award

Coco Gauff recently celebrated Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s remarkable achievement at the 2024 World Athletics Awards in Monaco, where the Olympian hurdler was named Female Track Athlete of the Year.

McLaughlin-Levrone earned this honor after a stellar season that saw her claim two gold medals at the Paris Olympics, dominating the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay, while also setting a new world record.

Gauff, currently ranked World No. 3 in tennis, reshared a post highlighting McLaughlin-Levrone’s accomplishment, describing her performance as “absolutely inspiring.”

Interestingly, Gauff has a personal connection to track and field, as she once pursued it before dedicating herself to tennis. In a press conference during the 2024 Canadian Open, she revealed that her mother, a former Florida State track athlete, believed she could have excelled as a 400m sprinter.

Olympic champion Noah Lyles even envisioned her as a hurdler, though Gauff humorously admitted her fear of hurdles. Reflecting on her middle school track success, Gauff expressed confidence that with proper training, she could have been an Olympian.

Despite her curiosity about a potential career in track, Gauff ultimately confirmed her passion for tennis, noting the grueling nature of sprint training.