Standing behind the starting blocks of the 400m hurdles, she wears a stoic expression. While her competitors smile into the camera or wave at the crowd as the stadium announcer bellows their names, Sydney stares straight ahead, unflinching. She is all business.

A hint of that steely reserve is on display as we chat on a Monday afternoon less than two months before the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for track and field, in Eugene, Oregon. But Sydney's expression is also contemplative and frequently punctuated by a wide, winning grin. That smile soon shifts into a chuckle as we discuss one of her favorite activities.

"I love sleep," the 24-year-old enthuses. "My husband [former NFL player Andre Levrone, Jr.] says he's actually concerned by how much I love sleep. A good night for me is nine hours. An amazing night is 10."

It might come as a surprise to hear one of the planet's fastest women-she holds the world record in the 400m hurdles, bounding over 10 of those 30-inch-tall barriers in a jaw-dropping 50.68 seconds-admit that rest and relaxation is a preferred pastime. But Sydney knows herself, and she knows how necessary a good night's sleep is for performance. Things haven't always been that crystal clear. Sydney has had to overcome many hurdles, both literal and figurative, over the course of her nearly decade-long career to attain that deep awareness and understanding of what her body and soul need in order to thrive.

Raised in the small town of Dunellen, New Jersey, Sydney is one of four children born to Willie and Mary McLaughlin, both former track athletes. Despite their running backgrounds, neither parent pressured their children to follow in their footsteps. "Number one for them was just getting us active," Sydney says. "There was also the social aspect of it, being able to play on teams and make friends."