Masai Russell: “This is exactly what I imagined”
Just over a year ago, in June 2023, Russell met with Olympics.com for a one-on-one interview on the eve of her career entry. She didn’t know that there would be obstacles along the way, but she was firmly convinced that when the need arose, she would encounter a smooth road.
“All I know is that when the day comes, you have to show up,” she said at the time in NCAA Championships“We all start at the same line and whoever crosses the finish line first, second or third goes home with something.”
In June, she addressed the negativity she faced online and elsewhere at the U.S. Olympic trials, where she beat an American field that included Olympic medalists and world record holders. Keni Harrison – and broke Gail Devers’ 30-year-old record with a time of 12.25, which is still the fastest time this year.
It was no coincidence.
She came to Paris and was one of the favorites in a field that also included the reigning Olympic champion in Jasmine Camacho Quinn. She steadily increased her speed with each lap and lined up on the course exactly as she said she had 14 months ago – on the same starting line as everyone else.
She was in fifth place for most of the race and when they took hurdle nine, Russell was still fourth.
But she would cross the finish line first and then wait for the result to be confirmed.
“When I found out, I just ran … because that’s exactly what I imagined it would be,” she said.
No longer a dream. Now just reality.
