VIDEO: UK Freshman Talks About What It's Like to be Olympian

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 16, 2018) — As the world watches the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, many at home find themselves wondering what it’s like to be an Olympian. To get a better idea, UKNow sat down with Olympian and University of Kentucky freshman Sydney McLaughlin.

McLaughlin, who recently graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, competed in the 400-meter hurdles competition in Rio de Janeiro at the 2016 Summer Olympics. The New Jersey native had hoped for an outcome even better than advancing to the semifinals on the biggest stage in sport, but having reached that level as a high school junior, it was by no means the last time you'll hear her name.

Now, McLaughlin is a freshman at UK, where she is preparing for the upcoming track season while also juggling her duties as a student.

See her talk about her transition to life in Lexington, her favorite parts about being a Wildcat and her hopes for the upcoming track season.

This year, "Blue" will be going for the "Gold," too. We will take you on the journey with special athletes and those who support them and have insight into what makes the Olympics so special. Be sure to visit www.uky.edu/olympics and follow along on all of our social media channels by looking for #olympiCats.