Sydney McLaughlin, 16, gives emotional speech after winning Gatorade Award
16-year-old track star gives emotional speech
After qualifying this past weekend in Oregon for the Olympic Games as a 16-year-old in the 400 hurdles, Sydney McLaughlin headed to Los Angeles and was named the Gatorade female athlete of the year on Tuesday.
She stepped to the podium and gave a memorable speech (see above) about how she overcame obstacles to become one of the top young track and field athletes in America.
She just completed her junior season at Union Catholic High in New Jersey. She’ll be heading to Rio de Janeiro next month to represent the United States.
The male athlete of the year was basketball standout Jayson Taytum from Chaminade in St. Louis. He’s headed to Duke.
Track standout Michael Norman from Vista Murrieta was one of the six male finalists for the award. Norman is headed to Poland in two days to compete in the World Junior Championships.
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