“Wellness is being content with who you are, and then beauty is able to exude that to the world,” says Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the 25-year-old Olympic sprint superstar and four-time Olympic gold medalist. With her eyes on future races like the Grand Slam Track meets and the World Championships in Tokyo, McLaughlin-Levrone is not only racing towards triumph but is also focusing on her overall well-being.
One of the tips to her on- and off-track success is a three-pronged wellness regimen that involves hair care, skin care, and self-care. McLaughlin-Levrone discovered her natural curls during the pandemic. “For some reason in my mind, I felt more confident with straight hair, because I just didn’t know how to manage my curls,” she told Sukhman Rekhi in an interview. Working with Olaplex, she found a regimen that revived her curls. Her shower routine consists of using Olaplex products No. 8 and No. 3 together, then No. 4 and No. 5. “My curls really love it—they feel hydrated, they feel clean, they feel moisturized,” she says. To maintain the health of her curls, McLaughlin-Levrone also wears a silk scrunchie and a silk pillowcase. As per The Silk Collection, silk scrunchies are kind to the hair and avoid breakage, and silk pillowcases minimize friction and keep hair’s natural moisture in place.
Self-care for McLaughlin-Levrone does not end at her hair. Her skin routine is simple and protective. “I keep [my skincare] very simple,” she explains. “I think there’s so much information, especially on Instagram or TikTok, that makes you want to change your routine every single day. But I’ve really just learned consistency in this simple routine is what works best.” One of the essential parts of her skincare routine is sunscreen. “I think the biggest thing for me recently has been sunscreen,” she says. “I’ve been the worst when it comes to sunscreen, if I’m being honest with you, but that’s like the number one thing I’m incorporating—both in the morning and out on the track.” Her favorite sunscreen is the Neutrogena Ultimate Sport Sunscreen Face Lotion, SPF 70.
In recovery, McLaughlin-Levrone appreciates the cool of ice baths. Though she hates the cold, she recognizes their value: “They’re so good for just kind of, like, resetting the whole nervous system, clearing the mind, and getting ready for another day on the track.” Though some practitioners, such as Wim Hof, have helped popularize the practice, scientific evidence is ambivalent. But as Andrew Jagim, Ph.D., a sports medicine specialist with Mayo Clinic, says, “If an athlete has an intense two-week period of practice or a three-day tournament and they are struggling with pain or soreness, I may recommend adding ice baths post-workout or throughout the day.”
To McLaughlin-Levrone, the advantage of ice baths goes far beyond physical recovery. “I love a good ice bath, even though I hate them,” she informs with a chuckle. “They’re so good for just kind of, like, resetting the whole nervous system, clearing the mind, and getting ready for another day on the track.” While the scientific community remains divided on the efficacy of cryotherapy, the practice has gained popularity thanks to proponents like Wim Hof, who touts its benefits for recovery, pain relief, and mood enhancement. Dr. Jagim recommends, “If an athlete has an intense two-week period of practice or a three-day tournament and they are struggling with pain or soreness, I may recommend adding ice baths post-workout or throughout the day.”
As McLaughlin-Levrone continues preparing for future competitions such as the Grand Slam Track meets and the 2028 LA Olympic Games, she stresses the need to run your own race. “Whether it’s career-wise, beauty-wise, whatever it is—you need to run your own race,” she advises. It’s so easy to look at the person next to you and worry about what they’re doing, but everyone’s pace is different. The most success that you can have on your journey is to just focus on what’s ahead. As she revels in her natural beauty and allows for rest and healing, McLaughlin-Levrone’s wellness regimen is a testament that self-care is not a privilege, but a requirement.
