Masai Russell is taking home a Paris gold in her Olympics debut.
In what was an intensely tight women’s 100-meter hurdles, the 24-year-old Potomac, Maryland native edged out her competition by one-hundredth of a second to take the top of the podium — the first time for the U.S. since 2016.
She posted a time of 12.33.
Russell waited anxiously for her time to pop up after the race and ran around frantically in celebration as France’s Cyrena Samba-Mayela was in tears with silver on her home turf.
It was France’s first track medal at the Paris games.
Samba-Mayela posted a time of 12.34 followed closely by Tokyo gold medal defender Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico, who finished at 12.36 for bronze.
Masai Russell, of the United States, wins the women’s 100-meter hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. AP
Masai Russell of United States, Alaysha Johnson of United States and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico in action. REUTERS
Masai Russell of Team United States celebrates winning the Gold medal in the Women’s 100m Hurdles Final on day fifteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 10, 2024 in Paris, France. Getty Images
Masai Russell (USA) wins the women’s 100m hurdles final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade de France. James Lang-USA TODAY Sports
Masai Russell of United States crosses the line to win gold ahead of Cyrena Samba-Mayela of France and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico. REUTERSCamacho-Quinn was hoping to be the first-ever to repeat a gold medal in the women’s 100-meter hurdles and after a rough start, she missed the feat by three-hundredths of a second.
With the victory, Russell became the third American to win the 100-meter hurdles in the last six Olympic games.
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She also continued the Americans’ streak of at least one medalist in the event in each Olympics since Sydney in 2000.
Russell placed first at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100-meter hurdles at 12.25 seconds, her personal best, and entered the Paris final with the third-best qualifying time of any American.
Masai Russell, of the United States, wins the women’s 100-meter hurdles final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. APShe previously finished third at the 2023 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships to qualify to represent the U.S. at the World Championships.
