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Masai Russell has explained how her boyfriend helped her overcome a rough start to the season and eventually win Paris Olympics 100mH gold.
Olympic 100m hurdles gold medalist Masai Russell has opened up about how her boyfriend played a crucial role in helping her overcome a rocky start to her season, ultimately leading her to triumph at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The 24-year-old hurdler, who won gold by just 0.01 seconds, edged France’s Cyrena Samba-Mayela with a time of 12.33 seconds in one of the most thrilling finishes of the Games. Defending champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico secured bronze with a time of 12.36 seconds.
Russell’s journey to Olympic glory was anything but smooth. Just a year ago, the Baltimore native had limited experience on the international stage, having recently wrapped up her collegiate career at the University of Kentucky. However, her determination, combined with the unwavering support of her boyfriend, helped her rise to the occasion when it mattered most.
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As Russell stood on the top of the Olympic podium, tears filled her eyes as the American national anthem played in the background. It was a moment of pure emotion, not only because she had achieved the pinnacle of her sport, but also because of the mental and emotional hurdles she had overcome along the way.
After leaving the University of Kentucky in the summer of 2023, Russell faced several challenges. Despite a strong collegiate career, she struggled to make an immediate impact on the professional circuit. A series of disappointing results, including a ninth-place finish at the Prefontaine Classic in May and a sixth-place showing at a Diamond League meet, only added to the pressure.
To make matters worse, Russell, who has a massive social media following, had a partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) that dissolved before the season began. With no sponsor and no financial backing, the anxiety began to take its toll.
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“It was super tough because for one, I started off being unsponsored,” Russell shared during an appearance on The Pivot Podcast. “When I came out of college, I had a contract, but I did not take it, and a lot went on. I ended up walking away from a contract, just taking a chance on myself and ended up delaying my signing process.”
As she awaited a new sponsorship deal, Russell’s self-doubt grew. She began questioning her place in the sport and the reason for her continued efforts.
“I thought by the time the season was starting, I would have been sponsored,” Russell explained. “I ended up not having a sponsor. I felt like I had attached myself to this one I did not get, so it was a case of, ‘alright, no one really cares if I show up or not. Why am I here? Why am I coming?’”
In the midst of this uncertainty, Russell’s boyfriend became her anchor, offering both emotional support and logical advice that helped her refocus on what truly mattered—her performance on the track.
“That is why I give so much credit to my boyfriend because at that time, I was mentally checked out,” Russell admitted. “Practice was harder than normal. I know your sport is mental. Our sport is mental, so if you are not in the right headspace, it is just hard to show up every day.”
Her boyfriend encouraged her to focus on her own race rather than external pressures. He reminded her that a contract or sponsorship didn’t define her worth as an athlete. “He was just telling me that ‘a check and contract does not make you fast. It does not allow you to do the things you want to do. It does not make you run fast or slow. If you are going to let money determine what you want to do, then you should just quit now.’”
These words forced Russell to take a step back and reassess her mindset. She realized that she had been overly concerned with how others perceived her, especially given her large social media following. The pressure of what people thought, particularly after her sponsorship deals fell through, was weighing on her heavily.
“I was kind of caring too much about how others perceived me,” she said. “I’m pretty big on social media, and people were like, ‘why didn’t you sign? I heard you were signing with this partner and then it didn’t happen.’ So I was stepping onto the line thinking about how everyone else was thinking of me, rather than just focusing on my 10 hurdles.”
Russell’s mental struggles extended beyond the financial and sponsorship issues. She found herself overcomplicating her technique, particularly her hurdle form, which led to problems during races. “I had a hurdle-jumping problem, and so I started to overcomplicate things—my steps, my drills, everything. I was overthinking the whole thing, and track is so mental, so if you are not aligned, you won’t be able to tell.”
By the time she arrived in Paris for the Olympic Games, Russell had managed to turn things around mentally, thanks in large part to the support from her boyfriend. With a renewed focus and a clear mind, she delivered the performance of her life on the biggest stage, securing her first Olympic gold.
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