Far Beyond Gold: Running from Fear to Faith

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars | 324 ratings

Price: 17.32

Last update: 10-04-2024


About this item

Read by the author.

What fears are standing in your way or holding you back? How do you want to become stronger? Olympic and World champion hurdler Sydney McLaughlin wants to help you answer these questions as she shares her personal story of struggles and victories, of faith and transformation.

Sydney McLaughlin knows about facing down obstacles. She has mastered not only racing over hurdles on the track but also tackling challenges in her personal life—from lifelong battles with perfectionism and anxiety to persistent questions about her identity and whether she was "enough."

Her pursuit of perfection and people-pleasing continued for years until God broke into her story with his overwhelming grace, transforming love, and empowering truth.

In Far Beyond Gold, Sydney will share aspects of her life story and personhood she has never shared publicly before, offering a more complex picture of who she is. She will inspire you to:

  • Conquer your fears in Christ's strength
  • Stand strong in your identity in him
  • Push past your perceived limits
  • Overcome the challenges you're facing

Experience the story of a woman who shifted from anxiety to boldness, from limits to freedom, and from perfectionism to purpose—and now shows the world that often what we think is impossible is possible with God.


Top reviews from the United States

Michael Vanhille
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent bio of this great athlete
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2024
Very well written, with interesting details yet no too much info, so the story flowed. The author's main steps in her journey were well-described, including some of her so-called failures. Her story shows us that a famous, accomplished athlete may not have lived a charmed life. She had to overcome many obstacles and challenges. I'm giving it as a gift to my teen granddaughter!
Shari S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Well Written
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2024
This was a great read, well written testimony of her spiritual journey and her track journey to gold.
Maya
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2024
Loved every bit of this book! Honest and easy read. All about sport, life, and faith. Really full circle and relatable.
Patrick B
4.0 out of 5 stars inspiring but not relatable
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2024
I have always admired this young lady, not only for her speed on the track, but also for her unabashed courage to use her fame and her platform to glorify God.  Sydney comes to post-race interviews not with trite platitudes but with verbatim Bible quotations, chapter and verse.  I feel sympathy for the hapless interviewer every time Sydney hijacks her post-race interview into an impromptu Bible study. 

Notwithstanding my great respect for the author, the book is rather lightweight.  I read it in under two hours without paying much attention.  I do not think her "problems" are relatable -- for example, underperforming at her first Olympics at age 17 or occasionally placing second in the world rather than first.  I do not think she risked much in this book, but how could she?  With her generational athletic talent and her supermodel looks, Sydney is not in a position to tell a relatable tale of hardship.  Instead, she is inspiring for the opposite reason.  Despite her superabundance of secular status indicators such as success, youth, beauty, fame, and money, she presents herself as a humble servant of God.  She is a countercultural rebel -- an advocate for Bible study and marriage in the prime of youth.  And that is where a commonfolk peasant like me can take inspiration.

One bizarre editorial mistake: God's pronouns are lower-case throughout the book. It turns out that nobody can avoid mistakes completely, not even Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
christi pantages
5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2024
Very inspiring and honest, she really goes deep in this book, huge eye opener, definitely glad I purchased this!
J.
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for your young runners
Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2024
Our daughter enjoyed reading and was inspired! Suggested for anyone to enjoy!
A.Clark
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, raw, and inspiring
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2024
Sydney's story is one that anyone can relate to (probably not the gold medals or world records). I'm talking about finding your purpose in this life.

Sydney demonstrates what happens when you let go of fear and embrace something better. She doesn't hold back in sharing her failures. She also doesn't hold back in how she got through them.

This book will show you what's possible when you embrace faith over fear. I'm twice her age and I found myself reminded of so many important principles of living by faith.

Read this book, learn from her story and watch your life change for the better.

A.Clark
Placeholder
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book
Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2024
While watching the 2024 Olympics, I noticed how Sydney McLaughlin gave the glory to God after winning her race and was curious about her life. I was happy to see she had written a book, so decided to read it. It is a very sweet and honest book about her life and how she came to know Jesus. I enjoyed it very much!!

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