Celebration held in Dunellen to honor Olympian Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone locked in two gold medals and set 6 world records in Paris this summer.
It’s been several weeks since the Paris 2024 Olympics wrapped up. But the celebration continues in New Jersey with a homecoming for one of Dunellen’s very own.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone came back to her old stomping grounds.
Family, friends and fans braved the rain for a glimpse and maybe a picture with the hometown hero.
Paige Witzel from Middlesex shared her memories of the track star.
"My cousin went to school with Sydney so a lot of times when my brother and I were kids she’d come down the street and play with us,” Witzel says.
"Just coming back home, so many memories, so many familiar faces and I know that they’re always cheering me on whenever I’m competing so it’s always a joy to come back and celebrate with them," McLaughlin-Levrone says.
On hand to honor the Olympian were people from the very community where she grew up and trained, including former teachers and Mike McCabe, her coach from Union Catholic High School.
"I always hoped that she’d be able to enjoy it because of all the pressure and I think she’s learned or figured out how to do it all but also to enjoy the process,” McCabe says.
Fan Gianna Tolomeo, from Middlesex, never misses an opportunity to watch McLaughlin-Levrone run.
"We’ve been watching her since her first run and I got this flag signed from her first run and I'm here every time that she was here, and we just love watching her and then seeing her win,” Tolomeo says.
The Middlesex County native locked in two gold medals and set six world records in Paris this summer.
"It’s just a joy and a pride knowing that this is where I come from. Knowing that I’m representing New Jersey and trying to do it to the best of my ability. I want to do that every time I step out on the track,” McLaughlin-Levrone says.
To top off the evening, the Olympian was given a key to the city and a street in Dunellen is now known as McLaughlin-Levrone Lane.
