Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, former Kentucky track star, inducted into UK Athletics Hall

LEXINGTON — Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone already has numerous titles to her name. Olympic gold medalist . Fastest woman in her sport .

She added another Friday night: Hall of Famer.

McLaughlin-Levrone was one of six inductees in the UK Athletics Hall of Fame 's 2024 class. The other members included Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (women’s track and field; 2016-18), John Cropp (administration and coach; 1991-2013), Henrik Larsen (rifle; 2018), Jodie Meeks (men’s basketball; 2007-09) and Corey Peters (football; 2006-09).

"It means so much," McLaughlin-Levrone said of her Hall of Fame selection prior to Friday night's induction ceremony. "Only coming here for a year, it was an amazing year. So being able to have an impact that warrants me even being where I am today — being inducted — it just means so much.

"And the UK family has always been so sweet and welcoming every single time, and so supportive during things like the Olympics, so it's a huge honor to be here."

McLaughlin-Levrone spent one season with Kentucky's track & field program .

During her record-setting one-and-done campaign with the Wildcats in 2018, McLaughlin-Levrone won the NCAA and SEC titles in the 400-meter hurdles. Along the way, she set a college-record time (52.75 seconds) in the event.

"My year here was hard — I'm not going to act like it wasn't — as it is for many college athletes all over the country," McLaughlin-Levrone said during her induction speech, "but I wouldn't change it for the world, honestly.

"I would not be the woman that I am had I not attended UK."

After leaving UK, McLaughlin-Levrone has continued to excel.

She's won back-to-back gold medals in the women's 400-meter hurdles at the Olympic Games.

She defended her title in the event at the Paris Olympics this summer , winning in a world-record time of 50.37.

In the process, McLaughlin-Levrone not only became the first female to win the 400-meter hurdles twice in the Olympics but also the first to repeat. The only man to accomplish that feat was American Glenn Davis , the Hall of Famer who won the race in the 1956 Melbourne Games and the 1960 Rome Olympics.

McLaughlin-Levrone added another gold medal to her mantle later that week, teaming with fellow UK track alum Alexis Holmes — as well as Shamier Little and Gabby Thomas — for the U.S. 4x400 relay team. The American quartet finished in 3:15.27, setting a U.S. record in the event. It's the second-fastest 4x400m relay time in history, trailing only the Soviet Union's mark of 3:15.17, set at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.

McLaughlin-Levrone and Holmes were just two members of a robust Kentucky track and field contingent in Paris.

Masai Russell ran to a gold medal in the women's 100-meter hurdles final — a race in which Camacho-Quinn placed third to take home the bronze. On the men's side, Daniel Roberts earned the silver medal in the 110-meter hurdles .

"Watching her race was just amazing," McLaughlin-Levrone said, referring to Russell. "Even Daniel Roberts. I know Masai winning that gold was huge, so I'm sure being able to come back here and kind of share that with the community has just been great.

"So it's really ' Hurdle U .' ... It's just really cool to be a part of."

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, former Kentucky track star, inducted into UK Athletics Hall