Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin's NJ hometown cheers from afar

Hometown cheers for Sydney McLaughlin

Olympian Sydney McLaughlin grew up in Dunellen, N.J., and attended Union Catholic High School. A watch party erupted into cheers, claps, and shouts when the hometown hero won gold in Tokyo.

DUNELLEN, N.J. - Team USA's Sydney McLaughlin took home gold during the women's 400-meter hurdle at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. McLaughlin won in 51.46 seconds, breaking her own world record.

McLaughlin grew up in Dunellen, a borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey. On Wednesday, community members beamed with joy following the win.

"The fact that she beat a world record and beat her own world record," neighbor Lizzy Burr said. "There is something in her that nobody else has."

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"We were screaming our heads off," family friend Zachary Newsom said. "It was absolutely awesome to see her just crush it."

McLaughlin graduated from Union Catholic High School in Scotch Plains in 2017. Mike McCabe, her high school track coach, said she dreamed of being an Olympic champion and had no doubt she was going to get there.

"A phenomenal athlete from the beginning. Hard worker, discipline, always at practice," McCabe said. "She just progressed so fast that I did think that she would get to this point."

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Sister Percylee Hart, McLaughlin's principal, said her humility and kindness made her stand out.

"It's not just about being the best athlete you are," Hart said. "It's about being the best person you can be."

Sydney McLaughlin wins gold

Sydney McLaughlin of the United States broke her world record Wednesday and won the Olympic 400-meter-hurdles gold.