Sydney McLaughlin's youth track coach knew what was coming.
Scotch Plains, N.J. – Sydney McLaughlin couldn't end smile.
McLaughlin, who won two golden medals and smashed her ain world record in the 400-meter hurdles at the Olympic Games this by summer in Tokyo, was merely overcome with joy to exist dorsum at her high school alma mater on Monday as Union Cosmic Regional High School held a celebration upshot to laurels her remarkable accomplishments.
"Union Catholic will always be a special identify for me,'' said McLaughlin, who graduated from Union Cosmic in 2017. "I accept so many dandy memories with my track team, the faculty, friends, and coaches. I am merely so excited to be back here around and then many people that I care about, and who care nigh me. I think that beingness here at Union Catholic, and hearing some of the things that your teachers have said, and that Principal Sister Percylee Hart personally has said, really resonated with me and helped me forth my journey. I am so grateful for the back up everyone in the Wedlock Catholic customs has given me to help me get where I am today.''
Five years agone, McLaughlin advanced to the semifinals of the 400 hurdles as a 17-twelvemonth-old at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. This past August she returned to the Olympics and captured the gold in the 400 hurdles with a globe record time of 51.46, and ran on the gold-medal winning iv×400 relay.
McLaughlin has been on a victory bout always since the Olympics.
She was honored over the summertime by her hometown of Dunellen when the track at Columbia Park in Dunellen was named after her, and now information technology was Union Cosmic's plow to recognize McLaughlin's Olympic heroics.
Monday'south event began with an outdoor ceremony that was attended past the entire UC student trunk, local dignitaries, and some special guests, and concluded with the unveiling of a new banner in the gym to commemorate McLaughlin's 2nd Olympic advent.
McLaughlin imparted some dandy words of wisdom to the crowd.
"Over the past year of my life, I realized that success is non measured by the amount of money, medals or followers that y'all may have, true fulfillment comes from obedience to God," McLaughlin said to the crowd. "People constantly scramble for authenticity. But my question to y'all is, Where are you looking for those things? Things such as coin, notoriety and materials are nifty things, but they volition never fulfill you. True happiness and purpose come from God."
McLaughlin told Ryan Patti from NJ.com that being able to share her success is the all-time part of her fame.
"It's and so much more exciting for those effectually me than information technology is for me," McLaughlin told Patti. "Being able to win a golden medal has been a childhood dream of mine, but for those around me to be able to be a part of something I worked for, information technology ways so much. I'm grateful that I can bring that opportunity to them."
After McLaughlin pulled on the rope to take the tarp off her new banner, which now gives her a total of nine hanging in the gym, she fielded questions from the electric current track and field squad members and offered them some groovy communication.
That's not all.
McLaughlin enjoyed being back at her alma mater and so much that she stayed around long after the ceremony ended to take photos with every student during the tiffin periods, and she signed autographs for anyone who wanted one.
Dr. James Reagan Jr., Wedlock Catholic's Assistant Master and Main Development Officer, emceed the plan. After an opening prayer past UC religion teacher John Becht, the National Anthem was sung by UC inferior Kevin Caffrey. And then several speakers took the podium.
"Information technology fills me with joy to welcome all of you here this morning and nigh importantly to welcome abode, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Sydney McLaughlin as we gather together with Sydney in celebration of her highest gold medalist achievement as an Olympian,'' said UC Principal Sister Percylee Hart, R.Due south.M. Every bit Sydney tin can attest, one of my 2 mantras for our students at Union Catholic has always been "to grow your gifts and talents and become all that God calls you to be."
"Sydney's achievement of breaking world records and winning two golden medals gives testimony to her response to this call,'' said Sister Percylee. "Thank y'all, Sydney, for serving as such a wonderful role model for our students to emulate and for being all that God calls yous to be. My other mantra for the students is: 'Be Good, Practise Good, Exist a Power for Expert.' Sydney is good. She is humble. She chooses good over evil and chooses kind every time. When yous are a good person it will manifest itself in doing expert."
"As a UC educatee, Sydney did good by engaging in charitable school projects and by reaching out to those in need," said Sister Percylee. "Her kindness to others were hallmarks of her interactions. And now, Sydney, what an crawly position you are in to exist a 'power for good.' Your worldwide recognition as an athlete provides you with a platform on a global level. It doesn't get better than that! I cannot wait to see the impact you will have at the global level with Jesus' message of love. Sydney, what a blessing you are to our UC Community. You are the shining example of what a role model should be. We have great faith in you, Sydney, and we are so very proud of you. May God continue to anoint you lot!"
"Sydney is good, she is humble, she chooses proficient over evil. She chooses 'kind' every time," said Bishop Elias R. Lorenzo of the Archdiocese of Newark, who praised McLaughlin as a office model for all Spousal relationship Catholic students.
"I bet you didn't know that I am the first mayor in all the history of Scotch Plains, to welcome a 2 time Olympic gold medalist, who just happens to have spent her high schoolhouse years correct hither," said Mayor Josh Losardo. "Not only do you lot persevere and achieve, but you lot did it with class. I call up the moments your races were broadcast in Baronial, and we all rooted difficult for you. In our minds, we knew from the starting line that you would exist the champion. It was a large celebration for all the other kids out there with big dreams of becoming the next Sydney. You have taught us that with hard work and dedication, any one of the states can be the very greatest at what we practise. You have that special gift, and information technology is contagious around here today.''
Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, a 1984 graduate of Union Catholic, was besides very excited to exist back at her alma mater.
"Skilful morning all you Vikings," Mahr said to the oversupply. "We are outside in this parking lot where I actually stood and hung out, many years agone, and I tin can't tell you how thrilled I am to exist standing up here to say even hello to Sydney McLaughlin, a proud alumna herself from Matrimony Catholic Regional High Schoolhouse."
"I come dorsum to this schoolhouse every in one case in a while, and I meet the banner that says 'Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow, and the traditions that lay in this school will build the foundation for each of your tomorrows," said Mahr. "It congenital my tomorrow, and it congenital Sydney'southward. So for all the young students out there, we wait at Sydney as a role model. We know that we can attain as loftier equally nosotros can. We can embrace our faith. Nosotros tin exist true to ourselves, and nosotros can always remember that we can ever come dwelling house."
Al Mirabella, the Marriage County Commissioner Chair, presented McLaughlin with a announcement from the County and commented that Wedlock Catholic is the only high school where the principal (Sis Percylee Hart) is always cheered.
State Senator Joseph Cryan, who has sent i kid and a nephew to Union Cosmic, presented a annunciation from the New Jersey Land Assembly. He commended McLaughlin for her rail and field accomplishments, simply also for her volunteerism, including helping the homeless of Central New Bailiwick of jersey and assisting with recovery efforts post-obit Super Storm Sandy.
After Alex Miller, the Director of Dunellen Parks and Recreation, and Dunellen Mayor Jason Cilento gave speeches, Mike McCabe, Union Catholic's head runway and field coach, and 2017 UC grad Sean Dorcellus, a product assistant for NBC's Olympic dissemination team in Tokyo, and McLaughlin's good friend, praised McLaughlin.
"I think Sydney is the greatest high schoolhouse runway and field athlete of all-time, and at present she'south ane of the greatest track and field athletes e'er in the globe,'' said McCabe. "It was an honor to motorbus her.''
When it was finally time to leave subsequently an unforgettable twenty-four hours, McLaughlin was even so wearing that big grinning across her confront.
Featured image: Two-fourth dimension Olympic gold medalist Sydney McLaughlin poses for a photo under her banners during a post-Olympic visit to her alma mater, Union Catholic Regional Loftier School. (Photo courtesy of Jim Lambert/Union Cosmic Regional High School)
This article originally ran on the Union Catholic athletics news folio and was reprinted with permission. To learn more well-nigh Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Newark, visit https://catholicschoolsnj.org/.
Source: https://jerseycatholic.org/gold-medalist-sydney-mclaughlin-gives-inspiring-message-in-return-to-union-catholic
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