McLaughlin won a gold medal at the World Youth Championships in 2015 in the 400 meter hurdles event. She qualified for the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics which made her the youngest athlete to make the US Olympic track and field team since both Carol Lewis and Denean Howard in 1980. McLaughlin holds many records for her age group. She turned professional in October 2018 and soon thereafter signed an endorsement contract with shoe company New Balance.
