"It was just a test all along" - Masai Russell reflects on her maiden track victory at Paris Olympics

Masai Russell was crowned the 100m hurdles champion at the Paris Olympics, marking her career’s first big win on the international stage. Recently, the American reflected on her campaign at the Games, as she revealed what advice she would give to her younger self.

Russell marked herself out as a promising hurdler from her days competing in the collegiate circuit, setting collegiate records in both the 60m and 100m hurdles. However, a national title eluded the 23-year-old throughout her NCAA career. At the 2023 World Championships, the American made her debut at a major international competition but was unable to make it to the finals.

Things finally started turning around for Masai Russell in 2024, and in August, she clinched the 100m hurdles crown at the Paris Olympics. Recently, the hurdler spoke to Athlos about the advice she would give to her younger self, and reminisced about the Olympics being her first major title in her career, saying,

“Advice that I would give to my younger self is just to have faith and believe in anything that she wants to do. Focus on your path, focus on literally what's meant for you. And what's meant for you is going to be at the end of the finish line."

She further added:

It was really a moment for me where I like believed in what I was doing, believed in the training, and believed that it would work. And it finally worked. I won for the first time ever in my career, and I won on the biggest stage. So it was just a test all along."

Outside of the Paris Olympics, Russell only won the US Olympic Trials in her 2024 season.

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Masai Russell begins her 2025 season with back-to-back wins

Russell at the 2024 Kamila Skolimowska Memorial (Image Source: Getty)

After her victorious run at the Paris Olympics, Masai Russell has now kicked off her 2025 on an impressive note. The American made her season debut at the Texas Tech Corky Classic, running the 60m sprint and the 60m hurdles.

She claimed victories in both events, clocking a 7.34a in the former and a 7.89s in the latter. Reacting to her win, Russell wrote on Instagram,

“7.89 SEASON OPENER…let the season begin.”

Masai Russell and her team are yet to confirm the hurdler's competition schedule for the upcoming year. However, the American will likely be focused on the World Championships in September, and fans will be excited to see her in action as she builds up to the big event.