Hurdles star Masai Russell wins gold medal in her Olympic debut

A former University of Kentucky track and field star prevailed in the women’s 100-meter hurdles for the second straight Olympics.

In Paris on Saturday, American Masai Russell won in 12.33 seconds in a tight finish ahead of France’s Cyrena Samba-Mayela (12.34) and defending champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico (12.36).

It was the first Olympics for Russell, who competed at UK from 2018 to 2023.

The 24-year-old Russell, from Potomac, Md., was a 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships silver medalist in the 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles and 4x100 relay.

“I just want every young girl to understand and know that if you believe in yourself, if you can see the work, day in and day out, there’s nothing that’s impossible for you,” Russell said, according to a report by the Associated Press.

“I always tell myself that it’s possible. Can’t no one take it away from you. This moment today was meant for me. So whatever moment that’s out there that’s meant for them, take advantage of the moment and the opportunity, because it’s meant for you.”

Camacho-Quinn’s gold medal came at the Tokyo Olympics, where she finished ahead of silver medalist Keni Harrison, another former Kentucky standout who didn’t qualify for Team USA for Paris Olympics.

Camacho-Quinn is the first Puerto Rican in Olympic history to win multiple medals. Still the Olympic record holder, she is the second Wildcat to win multiple Olympic medals, joining former teammate Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

Former UK track and field stars had already earned two medals in hurdles in Paris: McLaughlin-Levrone won gold and broke her own world record in the women’s 400-meter hurdles while Daniel Roberts took silver in the men’s 110-meter hurdles. Later Saturday, McLaughlin-Levrone and Alexis Holmes were part of the United States’ gold medal-winning squad in the 4x400-meter relay.

“Honestly, seeing everyone else from Team USA do their thing, I was like, ‘Yeah, I need to get a taste of that,’” Russell said in a report by Sports Illustrated. “Because I’ve been here for a long time. It’s going on the end of two and a half weeks! So I just wanted to make it a good one. I wanted to come out here and put my name in history.”

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