Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone knows a thing or two about healing like a pro.

She has solidified her spot as one of the greatest track and field athletes, becoming the first person to win world championship gold medals in both the 400-meter hurdles and the 400-meter flat. 

Naturally, McLaughlin-Levrone is not exempt from injuries on the track, which is why her approach to healing extends far beyond the physical.

“Everyone wants in life to be able to heal to the best ability possible,” she told Blavity. 

“I feel like healing is what gets us back out there, and so being able to heal to the best of your ability possible, it shortens that time of recovery and allows you to get back to doing what you’re pushing hard towards and doing what you love,” McLaughlin-Levrone added.

Her idea of the ultimate self-care day

McLaughlin-Levrone is revered for the precision and control dedicated to her races and for making every step intentional.

The sentiment is the same when it comes to taking care of herself.

“Just taking care of my body, taking time to rest, taking time to heal, whether that is using Band-Aid Pro Heal five-day protect, or even just like sleep for me has been very huge,” McLaughlin-Levrone said when asked what self-care looks like for her.

She continued, “Allowing my body to recover naturally and do what it’s supposed to do, and giving it the necessary tools that it needs to do that properly. I think I’m such an active person in my everyday life that I sometimes forget to just sit still. And I think that’s the one thing that I’ve learned in my healing process, letting my body do what it’s supposed to do.”

The four-time Olympic gold medalist has partnered with Band-Aid Brand Pro Heal 5 Day Protect for the 2026 Heal Like a Pro campaign, showcasing what that looks like, whether it’s physical or the mental resilience required to stay at the top of her game.

On her daily motivation

McLaughlin-Levrone has already accomplished so much at a young age, and she has no plans of letting up anytime soon.

“Just the desire to improve, the desire to be better, in whatever it is I’m doing, and to do it to the best of my ability,” is what she says serves as the inspiration for getting out of bed each day. “I think it’s the motivation that there’s always something that can be done.”

She concluded, “It’s a never-ending cycle, which is — it can be intimidating, but it’s also exciting, because you know that it’s only up from here.”