Despite Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone And André Levrone They had a mutual friend, but only came into contact with each other through a conversation in DMs.
“We didn’t interact until he sent me a private message. We started as friends,” the Olympic star recalls The knot in 2022. “He asked me to do Bible studies with him and introduced me to a group of really great people who were encouraging and very mature. It was the first time I had a relationship with a man who I felt could lead me to a place in my faith where I wanted to be.”
The couple began a platonic relationship before realizing that there was a romantic spark between them as well.
“We both knew early on that we liked each other and what our intentions were,” she told the outlet. “If I could say one thing about our relationship, it’s that it’s always been very intentional. Honestly, I knew on day four when we first spoke.”
The couple made their romance public in December 2020, a year before their engagement. Sydney and the former NFL star married in May 2022.
Keep scrolling to see the full timeline of their relationship:
December 2020
As Sydney wrote in her 2024 memoir: Far beyond gold: From fear to faithAndre first sent her a message based on a selfie that the track star had captioned “Attention.”
Andre responded and wrote: “You have my attention. How can I get yours?”
In December 2020, they were official on Instagram. “Sent from heaven,” he wrote under a selfie of the couple.
August 2021
A month after Sydney’s Olympic debut in Tokyo, Andre proposed to her while Sydney was on a girls’ trip to Arizona.
“I was very suspicious that he would just come by,” she recalls The knot. “I wasn’t sure why.”
On the way to dinner, Sydney was given a card that read, “I’m sorry I can’t be there to celebrate with you, but I have a surprise for you on the lawn.” Outside, she found Andre on his knees, waiting to propose to her.
June 2022
The couple married at Early Mountain Vineyards in Virginia.
“I think we want something rustic and elegant, with lots of white and olive green,” she told the bridal magazine at the time. “I like the idea of a green background, maybe a neon sign that we can all take photos in front of – classy.”
June 2024
A month after her second anniversary, Sydney competed in the U.S. team’s Olympic trials. She made the team and traveled to the Games in Paris in July, winning gold in the women’s 400-meter hurdles.