She fell ill with an infectious disease called mononucleosis, her mother suffered a heart attack, and she underwent a nervous breakdown.
A recipe for disaster? Not to Sydney McLaughlin.
Drawing full strength from her Christian faith, McLaughlin found a way to beat all her personal trials and succeed in her quest: to qualify for the U.S. track and field team in next month's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
At just 16 years old, McLaughlin also has the distinction of being the youngest member of the team after she finished third in the 400-metre hurdles at the U.S. trials in Oregon on July 10.
During a press teleconference with the Catholic News Agency, McLaughlin revealed that she actually panicked during the Olympic trials and nearly quit the race, but found the courage to compete with the help of her family and coaches and her faith in God. She ended up setting a world junior record at 54.14 seconds.
It "definitely showed this is God's plan for me," she said.
The young Olympian explained that her faith in God has helped her throughout her life, particularly in her quest to prove her worth in her chosen sport.
She said the pressure and expectations leading up to the Olympic trials "became overwhelming at one point" as she knew she would be competing against the best of the best.
"Something like track is a very mental sport," she said. "There's a lot of pressure and there's a lot of expectation put on you."
McLaughlin said she prays during warm-up before every race and then exerts her best effort on the tracks "regardless of what happens."
"Sticking to what I know and believing that everything I've been given comes from God definitely played a big role for me," she said.
McLaughlin belongs to a family of athletes. In 1984, her father Willie also qualified for the 400-metre semifinals at the Olympic trials but failed to make the Olympic team.
McLaughlin's mother was also a runner while her older brother Taylor currently competes in the 400-meter hurdles for Michigan University.
McLaughlin said she will miss the Olympics Opening Ceremony on August 6 since she intends to celebrate her 17th birthday on August 7 with her family and friends. Right after, she will fly to Rio carrying her lucky blanket, a sparkly manicure, and the assurance that whether she wins a medal or not, it will be according to God's plan.
