In a heartfelt conversation hosted by Paul Salfen on AMFM Magazine, four-time Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone joined her father, Willie McLaughlin, to share a deeply personal story that extends far beyond the track. While Sydney continues to dominate as one of the greatest female track-and-field athletes of all time—holding the world record in the 400m hurdles at 50.37 seconds and claiming gold in the 400m hurdles and 4x400m relay at the Paris 2024, Tokyo 2020, and World Championships—the spotlight in this interview turned to a genetic heart condition that has profoundly shaped their family: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
Willie, a former standout athlete himself—a three-time NCAA All-American in the 400m, three-time IC4A outdoor champion, and competitor in the 1984 U.S. Olympic Trials—was diagnosed with non-obstructive HCM at age 25. At the time, he showed no symptoms. But over the years, the disease thickened the walls of his heart, gradually leading to fatigue, shortness of breath, arrhythmias, and high blood pressure. By his late 30s, symptoms emerged, progressing eventually to heart failure. After more than two decades living with the condition, Willie underwent a lifesaving heart transplant.
“One out of 350 Americans experiences HCM,” Willie explained in the interview, “most of whom go undiagnosed.” He emphasized how many people dismiss early signs—tiredness or breathlessness—as simply aging or being out of shape. “I learned about it early… but my brothers who also had it didn’t find out till later,” he said, urging regular checkups with physicians or cardiologists. “It is very common… get checked out for it.”
Sydney, who has not been diagnosed with HCM herself (though she plans to get screened), has stood by her father’s side through it all. She’s proud to use her platform for awareness, partnering with him on the “On Track with HCM” campaign, a collaboration with Cytokinetics. The initiative, accessible at ontrackwithhcm.com, offers video modules, personal stories, and practical resources covering the whole-person impact of the disease—from physical symptoms to emotional, social, family, and lifestyle challenges.
“We have a lot of video modules just telling my dad’s story as well as just helpful information and resources,” Sydney shared. “Just really encourage people to get informed… to help people know that they’re not alone.”
The father-daughter duo reflected on life’s hurdles, drawing parallels between athletic challenges and health battles. When asked about their “Hail Mary” moments, Sydney recalled stepping into the unfamiliar at the recent World Championships, trusting the process and faith to push through discomfort and growth. Willie pointed to his high school decision to quit a job and pursue track, which earned him a four-year scholarship and launched his athletic path.
Both credited faith as a cornerstone of resilience. “My faith is a huge part of my life,” Sydney said. “There’s a certain level of resilience… but there’s another part that comes from leaning outside of yourself… taking it one day at a time, one step at a time.” Willie echoed this, adding his determination to “fight to the end” even through HCM symptoms, and noted how the lack of resources in his early days made the current campaign especially meaningful.
The interview closed with encouragement: Visit ontrackwithhcm.com to learn more, hear their stories, and access tools for managing HCM. Through triumphs on the track and trials off it, Sydney and Willie McLaughlin embody perseverance, family support, and the power of awareness—reminding us that some races are run together, not alone.
