In her memoir, Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone recounts her unforgettable journey to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. While her Olympic debut was a momentous occasion, the flight that took her there was anything but enjoyable. In fact, it was a miserable experience that left an indelible mark on her memory.
As McLaughlin-Levrone reflects on that fateful flight, she recalls the discomfort and frustration she felt being crammed into a middle seat at the back of the plane. The limited space and lack of personal freedom made the eight-and-a-half-hour journey feel like an eternity. To make matters worse, the other travelers sitting near her were constantly coughing and sneezing, creating an unpleasant atmosphere that only added to her misery.
“I had a middle seat on the flight. All the way in the back of the plane. Big mistake,” McLaughlin-Levrone writes in her memoir. “I had not chosen this seat for myself; it was booked by USA Track and Field after the trials. I didn’t know I could be more specific with my preference on a seat. The flight was miserable.”
As she recounts the experience, McLaughlin-Levrone’s vivid descriptions bring the reader into the cramped and uncomfortable world of a long-haul flight. Her words paint a picture of a young athlete, eager to make her mark on the world stage, yet struggling to cope with the harsh realities of air travel.
“I was crammed between strangers who spent the entire flight sneezing and coughing,” McLaughlin-Levrone recalls. “It was like one of those movie scenes where you think, That doesn’t happen in real life. I can confirm; it really does happen.”
Despite the discomfort and frustration, McLaughlin-Levrone’s experience on that flight served as a valuable lesson in perseverance and adaptability. As she navigated the challenges of her first long-haul flight, she discovered the importance of self-advocacy and the need to speak up for her own needs.
In the end, McLaughlin-Levrone’s miserable flight to Rio proved to be a minor blip on the radar of her remarkable journey. As she took to the track, she left the discomfort of the flight behind, focusing instead on the thrill of competition and the pursuit of excellence.
Today, as one of the world’s most accomplished athletes, McLaughlin-Levrone looks back on that flight as a reminder of the challenges she has overcome and the lessons she has learned along the way. Her story serves as a testament to the power of resilience and determination, inspiring countless young athletes to pursue their dreams, no matter the obstacles they may face.
