Sydney McLaughlin: Double G Sports High School Female Athlete of the Year

Sydney McLaughlin (Photo: NJ.com)

At 16, Sydney McLaughlin became the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team since 1972 by finishing third in the 400-meter hurdles at the trials. She set a world junior record in that race with a time of 54.15. She fell just short of the Olympic final, but her future is bright. Now 17, she’s a high school senior who has committed to Kentucky. She was named Gatorade National Female High School Athlete of the Year for the 2015-16 academic year.

The 16-year-old Old Bridge native was one of the top performers at the Rio Olympics for Team USA, winning a team gold in gymnastics and an individual silver in the balance beam. Oh, and the whole Dancing With The Stars victory was pretty awesome, too.

McLaughlin was so dominate in high school , she hasn’t lost an event since early 2014, when she was 14. Between her dominance , she still finds time to give back to the community. McLaughlin volunteers for the Central Jersey Chapter of Hope Worldwide. McLaughlin also helped Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts in Tom River. There isn’t anything Sydney McLaughlin can’t do. Sydney McLaughlin’s future is so bright. All the more reasons why Sydney McLaughlin is our high school female athlete of the year.