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The reigning Olympic champion has explained why she is hungry to bag the 60,000 USD on the line at the Athlos Women's-Only meet in New York despite failing to win the race over controversial start.
Olympic 100m hurdles champion Masai Russell is aiming for a bigger payout this season, targeting up to $120,000, despite a controversial race at the Athlos Women’s Meet in New York.
While the 60,000 USD she earned for her Olympic gold at the Paris Games was a significant prize, Russell believes she deserved the win in New York after finishing third in the 100m hurdles.
Russell attributed her disappointing start at the meet to distractions in the blocks, where she claimed her competitors flinched before the race. She argued that the false starts should have warranted a restart, which never happened.
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09:00 - 27.09.2024
Masai Russell clears the air on controversial start at Alexis Ohanian’s Athlos event
Olympic champion Masai Russell has come out to come out to clear the air on her controversial start at the inaugural Athlos event in the 100m hurdle race.
Despite a slow start, she mounted a fierce comeback, finishing with a time of 12.44 seconds, just behind Diamond League champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (12.36 seconds) and Alaysha Johnson (12.43 seconds).
"My agent went to talk to the race director. I want to protest because as anyone can see there was a lot of flinching going on at the starting line and that affected me, so I was playing catch up the entire race,” Russell told Citius Mag. “It is a big prize money on the line, and the person that ran the legal race should get the prize money they deserve."
Russell expressed frustration that she was the only athlete who executed a clean race, believing the malfunctioning sensors may have allowed competitors to record faster reaction times. She remains hopeful that the decision might be overturned, allowing her to claim the $120,000 she feels she deserves.
Still, Russell isn’t dwelling on the loss for too long. Reflecting on her Olympic triumph, she emphasized her gratitude for the $60,000 reward from World Athletics.
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18:30 - 23.09.2024
'He's the yang, I am the ying!' - Kishane Thompson on the pivotal role twin brother has played in shaping him
Kishane Thompson has spoken candidly about the role his fraternal twin brother Kishan has played in shaping the sprinter he now is.
"I am leaving with 60,000 dollars regardless because I won the gold medal... so it is still not a bad day at the track, but if I could leave with 120,000, I will be very happy with that," she said.
Russell has yet to fully process the magnitude of her Olympic victory. Although she has not claimed any further wins since her Paris triumph, she is confident in her ability to perform when it counts the most. “It still sounds surreal... but it is a title that will be there for a long time, and I am just blessed and honored,” Russell shared.
Looking ahead, Russell is focusing on her long-term goals. She believes that her performance in these races is merely preparation for the moments that truly matter in the future. “At the end of the day, it does not matter what I do outside of the championship as long as I show it when it matters the most,” she remarked.
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19:09 - 25.09.2024
Sha'Carri Richardson's teammate 'Tee Tee' Terry on why USA-Jamaica sprint rivarly is 'healthy'
Terry, who helped Team USA claim gold in the 4x100m relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has explained why the rivalry between Jamaica and USA in sprinting has redefined the sport.
As for her off-season plans, the hurdler has her eyes set on rewarding herself for her hard work, including purchasing a new home and a luxurious Chanel bag. "Not yet, I want to give myself a Chanel bag and I am in the process of buying a house, as well as some nice vacations,” she revealed.
Russell remains optimistic, determined to push past the disappointment and capitalize on her next big moment on the track.
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