Masai Russell wins Olympic 100m hurdles gold: Decoding her campaign
What's the story
In a nail-biting finish, USA athlete Masai Russell won the gold medal in the women's 100m hurdles event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 24-year-old sprinter crossed the finish line in an impressive time of 12.33 seconds, edging out France's Cyrena Samba-Mayela by just one-hundredth of a second. Notably, this was Russell's maiden Olympic gold. Let's decode her campaign.
Record breaker
Russell shattered 24-Year-Old record
Despite not having any major titles before the Paris 2024 Olympics, Russell showcased her exceptional talent at the 2024 US Olympic Trials. She clocked a personal best and world-leading time of 12.25 seconds. As per Olympics.com, this made her the fourth-fastest woman to complete the 100m hurdles in history. This performance broke Gail Devers's 24-year-old trials record, highlighting Russell's potential as an emerging star.
Olympic showdown
Russell triumphed over stiff competition at Paris Olympics
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Russell faced fierce competition from numerous athletes. Despite this, she managed to pull ahead after clearing the final hurdle. She outpaced Samba-Mayela and defending champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico by mere hundredths of a second to secure her victory. Earlier, Russell topped Heat 3 with a time of 12.53 seconds to secure a place in the semi-final.
Knock-outs
Semi-final and final
Russell was placed in the seventh lane in the semi-final round. She again put up an impressive show and clocked 12.42 seconds. Only Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (12.35) finished faster in her group. However, the tables turned in the final as Russell was the first to cross the line. It was a photo finish as Samba-Mayela (12.34) and Camacho-Quinn (12.36) were just some fractions behind her.
Campaigns
Fifth gold for USA
It must be noted that Russell became America's fifth woman to win an Olympic gold in the women's 100m hurdles event. She joined the likes of Brianna Rollins (2016), Dawn Harper (2008), Joanna Hayes (2004) and Benita Fitzgerald (1984). East Germany (2) is the only other nation with multiple Olympic golds. Meanwhile, USA's tally also includes four silver and five bronze.