"The girls on the track team were hating"- Masai Russell opens up on her time as a senior at Bullis School 

Masai Russell, the reigning Olympic champion in the 100m hurdles, spoke about how she was once 'hated' by her fellow track mates in her senior year at Bullis High School after she got selected for Team USA. She also shared how her mother's sickness at the time made things difficult.

Russell, 24, clinched the gold in the 100m hurdles at the 2024 Paris Games, finishing ahead of Cyréna Samba-Mayela and defending champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn in second and third place respectively.

On the Sport Xposure Podcast, Russell spoke about how her mother, Dr. Sharon Russell, was busy with her medical duties as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and her father trained her on the track as her first coach. She also spoke about how her senior year at Bullis School was difficult when her mother was sick and her track mates 'were hating' after her selection to Team USA.

"My senior year, my mom, she was sick, and you know the girls on the track team were hating I had made like USA teams, they was mad I was wearing my USA gear and it was just like little petty things.." (3:58)

She also recalled how her mother was hurt about not being able to support her daughter at the time.

"...She was not in her best state and she was just very hurt and sad that she wasn't able to like stick up for me."

Masai Russell then said it was all about putting things in perspective:

"I guess it's all about perspective because looking back at it, it was things that I was going through but like I'm just so relentless and who I am and what I do.." (3:52)

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Masai Russell expressed her desire to compete in the second edition of the Athlos NYC

Massai Russell poses at the Buffalo Bills v Baltimore Ravens - (Source: Getty)

After earning a nomination for the Female Athlete of the Year, Masai Russell expressed her wish to compete at the Alexis Ohanian-backed event next year as well in a conversation with Athlos.

"I'll be in attendance for Athlos again, again, again and again," Russell said. "The biggest thing I'm focusing on during this off-season is to really just get my mind back in alignment so I can have a fresh start and just propel for the season."

Ohanian responded to the post on X and said he was looking forward to having her back for the second edition in 2025.

"Ready to have you back for PHASE II"

Russell clocked 12.44s in the 100m hurdles to finish third at the 2024 Athlos NYC meet at Icahn Stadium.