“Had the WORST season of my life & im now a freaking Olympian.” These were the words of the Paris Olympics’ gold medalist. What we saw was the 24-year-old posing with her gold medal in her hand for 100mH, the classic shot of her biting her gold medal, all while wearing the Team USA tracksuit. Everybody saw that smile and cheered! But what most failed to see was the struggles behind the smile, the strength her jaws built to bite the medal, and how once she struggled to stay focused. And what’s the reason?

It was the 2024 track and field season, and there was still no contract for Masai Russell, so she went into the season unsponsored. She says that this was the “worst season” of her life. Why and who, you wonder? The 24-year-old was not in her comfort space during the 2024 season. Appearing in the thirty-fourth episode of What An Experience with Lonzo Ball, released on YouTube just a day ago, she said, “….last season was like my worst season of my life it was actually pretty sick like I was running so slow i was just like ‘What’s going on?’”

When asked what was the reason behind her slow run, Masai Russell said, “It was a couple of reasons, because when I left college, I had broken records. I did really good, so I was just expecting to get signed like right after college,” but it didn’t happen after she graduated from Kentucky in 2023. The woman who had set a collegiate record in the 100m hurdles (12.36) while in college had a deal. The SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll further added,  “I had a contract, but I didn’t agree with the things that were happening in the contract.” Now after this, she was expecting that she would, but that did not happen!

“And then I was just expecting to get picked up like immediately after that. So it was a little slower than I expected for it to go,” but Masai Russell kept her faith, and then the 2024 season came around. But then everything started getting real. The 2023 Outdoor USTFCCCA First-Team All-America recalled, “I’m like, all right, what’s happening?  So then more of the story.  Yeah, I just went into the season unsponsored. And I was supporting myself, going to pro meets,  just kind of just out there doing my thing.”

The 2024 season was kind of a nightmare for the track and field athlete. Masai missed out on a medal by finishing fourth in the 60m hurdles at the 2024 World Indoor Championships, but this was one of the close misses. In May alone, Masai Russell had two finishes that were not only out of the podium but the top 5 as well. She finished 6th in the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix and 9th in the Prefontaine Classic. In both events, she was competing in the 100m hurdles. Along with various out-of-podium finishes, she did have some good races as well. For instance, she started the season well with the number one spot in the 60nH in the UK Rod McCravy Memorial.

Adding to all that were her battles with her sponsorship.“And then I finally got picked up by Nike. So I was just really thinking about how other people was portraying me. And my mind wasn’t focused on just competing.”  Masai Russell finally signed with Nike in April 2024. but her first meet post the signing was not what she expected. “My first outdoor meet sign, I fell because we are running into barriers when I do my event… And I was just really scared to hurdle… I was scared to fall… And when you’re scared at anything that you do, it’s going to happen…So that’s really what affected me. And my times were just like terrible.”

It not only impacted her performance but her confidence as well. But they say good things come to those who wait. And it came true for Masai Russell. And the rest is history! Also, if 2024 was the “worst season” for Russell, then her 2025 season till now has been the exact opposite!

A Series of Number 1 in 2025 for Masai Russell

When they say that ‘there’s no rise without a fall,’ Masai Russell would be the perfect example of the saying. The athlete who had a rough 2024 season has been rocking the 2025 one as of now. In her season opener at the Texas Tech Corky Classic, she clocked a 7.89 in the 60m hurdles, taking the number one spot.

Masai Russell has kept up this performance with another number 1 spot in the 60mH in the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix with a time of  7.80 and then another first-to-cross-the-line finish came in the Millrose Games. And the time, it was a whopping 7.76. Doesn’t it feel like Masai is competing against herself? Well, wait for the next race till you answer the question!  Masai’s last race as of now came in the USA Indoor Championships on February 22nd, where she participated in the 60m hurdles, winning gold, with times of 7.74.  Thus, once again reducing her time and clocking her personal best!