Olympic Gold Medalist Sydney McLaughlin speaks on overcoming life's obstacles and finding true empowerment

Olympic Gold Medalist and World Champion hurdler Sydney McLaughlin has inspired millions on her path to become a top track and field athlete. The youngest U.S. Olympian to compete in track and field since 1972, McLaughlin set both junior world and NCAA records before winning two gold medals at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Named the Gatorade National Girls Athlete of the Year two years in a row, McLaughlin is known for her dedication both to sports and her ability to inspire. Her her status both as an athlete and a cultural icon. She expands on her uplifting story in her book Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith and through her work as a brand ambassador for New Balance. In her motivational talks, McLaughlin helps us see that our dreams are possible with hard work, perseverance, and determined pursuit.

Touching both on her faith and the obstacles she has faced on her way to success, McLaughlin offers empowering and inspiring remarks on perseverance, learning and evolving from your mistakes, staying open to new experiences, and the pursuit of success. When recognized by TIME Magazine as an emerging leader, her teammate and world-record holder ALLYSON FELIX described her as someone with “a quiet confidence that demands your attention...[and] the potential to impact lives.”

Sydney McLaughlin speaks on her new book 'Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith’

Olympic and World Champion hurdler SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN knows about facing down obstacles, and she wants to help you answer these questions as she shares her personal story of struggles and victories, of faith and transformation. In Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith, McLaughlin shares aspects of her life story and personhood she has never shared publicly before, offering a more complex picture of who she is. Drawing on her faith, McLaughlin explores her shift from anxiety to boldness, from limits to freedom, and from perfectionism to purpose in Far Beyond Gold. 

Programming Idea: With a message as powerful and inspiring as Sydney’s, the reverberations continue long after the event is over. HWA can help you facilitate a bulk purchase of Far Beyond Gold as a gift for your audience members to leave them with a tangible memento of your event. 

Talks & Topics

Author Talk: ‘Far Beyond Gold’

• Sydney McLaughlin wrote Far Beyond Gold to share the faith empowering her to become a world-class athlete at an extremely young age. Inspiring any audience, McLaughlin digs into her experiences in track and field to discuss self-empowerment in the face of adversity, growing through mistakes, and approaching success with eyes wide open.

Overcoming Obstacles to Make Your Dreams Come True

• Sydney inspires every audience with empowering and inspiring messages on overcoming obstacles, learning and evolving from your mistakes, and staying open to new experiences. McLaughlin helps us see that our dreams are possible with hard work, perseverance and determined pursuit.

Finding Purpose Through Faith

• McLaughlin’s faith is a foundational aspect of everything she does and how she defines herself. In this talk, she shares her faith journey, and how God established her steps which helped her achieve the success she's had today. She shares her personal story as a beautiful representation of what is possible with God. 

Watch Sydney In Action