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Masai Russell has opened up about her breakthrough 2024 season, claiming it 'literally changed her life'. The American hurdler won her maiden gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
After breaking the collegiate record in 60m hurdles, Russell turned professional in 2023 and made it to the Budapest World Championships. However, she suffered a heartbreaking end at the competition, failing to qualify for the finals after hitting a hurdle during her semifinal run.
The 24-year-old redeemed herself in 2024, running the second fastest 100m hurdles time of 12.25s in American history to qualify for the Paris Olympics. She beat the defending champion Jasmine Qamacho-Quin at the Games, winning gold in 12.33s.
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Russell bought a new house for herself following the Olympics and was overwhelmed with emotions of happiness and pride in herself. Reflecting on her 2024 season while filming a house tour video for her YouTube channel, the 23-year-old said [5:40 onwards]:
"This 2024 season, this year literally life-changing, dream chasing and this is one for the books. I would write a book about this year, this era. I can write a whole book about this year."
Earlier in the video, she expressed to gratitude to God, her family, and fans for supporting her through the season. She said:
"I did it, shout out to God, shot out to y'all, shout out to everybody. Cheers to many more." [5:02]
The 24-year-old concluded her season at the newly launched Athlos NYC, finishing third in the 100m hurdles. She was awarded $10,000 in prize money while the winner, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, took home $60,000.
"I'm looking to break the world record indoors this season" - Masai Russell sets lofty goals for the 2025 season
Masai Russell has kicked off her training for the 2025 indoor season and recently announced that she will race at the Millrose Games for the first time in her professional career. Speaking in an interview with Citius Magazine, she said:
"The Millrose Games have a very special place in my heart because I ran there all four years when I was in high school as a Bullis athlete…I was watching those professional athletes when I was in high school and I wanted to be in their place. It’s definitely going to mean a lot to come back and I know the energy at that meet is just electric."
The 100m hurdles Olympic champion also announced that she was looking to break the indoor world record in the 60m hurdles as well as win the indoor world title in the coming season.
"I have some big goals coming. The women's 100m hurdles doesn’t make it easy on anybody. I know that I have to come in even stronger, even faster, even better. I'm looking to break the world record indoors this season and win the world indoor title," Russell added.
Russell has a personal best of 7.75s in the 60m hurdles while the world record in the event is 7.65s. Given the 24-year-old's development in the 2024 season, she is indeed close to breaking it.
