“This is just the beginning. That’s why I say everybody. The Olympic gold was just the beginning.” Strong words, no? Well, these words come from someone with plenty of big wins to her name. This includes an Olympic gold as well. So when she speaks, we notice. And the woman behind these words is none other than the reigning Olympic champ in 100m hurdles, Masai Russell. But finally breaking her silence, she admits this is just the beginning.

Yes, her subsequent performances support that fact. This year, right after her Paris Olympics endeavor, Masai set the world-leading time in the women’s 60 mH indoor event, overpowering Devynne Charlton. In a fortnight, she perfected her world-leading timing twice. Wait, there’s something deep waiting. The first one came in the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix.

Masai rose atop the podium with 7.80 seconds marked in the event. What could have been better than this? 0.04 seconds less timing, maybe. The Washington, D.C. native sealed that deal in the 117th Millrose Games. Keeping her fireworks fiery enough. And now what? A mixed bag. Something sad for the indoor track and field fans. Remember, whatever she does, she does it with finesse.

That’s what Masai Russell is for you. So, there might be some catch. Let’s follow. On February 22, Masai Russell appeared at the women’s 60mH indoor event once again. She had something clear in her mind. Her rival Grace Stark put up 7.75 seconds to complete the event in the prelims, taking the world lead. However, in the final, Russell shaved 0.01s from Grace’s timing to reclaim the world lead, timing once again.

Ultimately, her timing was sufficient to give her the US Indoor Championships title. But here comes another extraordinary piece of record for her. Masai Russell’s 60mH victory today made her the first athlete after Brianna Rollins to win an Olympic gold in the women’s 100mH event and the national title in 60mH. Notably, eight years ago, Brianna snagged the Olympic gold in the women’s 100 mH event.

The same year, she bagged the national indoor championship title in the women’s 60 mH event. But here comes a twist. The Florida-born star had an extended achievement. She had the fame to win two national outdoor championships in the women’s 100m hurdles. The first one came in 2013, while the second followed in 2016. But subsequently, she dropped a piece of bad news. 

Masai Russell won’t be traveling to China. She will not participate in the World Athletics Indoor Championships. However, she is in her top form. Then why is she going to turn away the chance? In her post-race interaction, the Olympian said, “Just because it’s very close to the outdoor season, you know, I am a professional now, so I’m not in a rush to just go back and forth from competition to competition to competition.” Justified. However, an adage states that “iron sharpens iron.”

A participation chance in the World Athletics Indoor Championships could bring the best out of her. Masai knows those elements. Yet she wants to see things through a different lens. In the interaction, she responded, “For me personally and me mentally, I like to take a break before like spinning it up again.”

She further continues, “I just think it’s going to set me up really great for the outdoor season because the season is very long this year, ends in September, so I want to make sure that I am ready to run, my mindset is there. And you know, my compass is still going into the world outdoors.” She has kept her targets fixed in the outdoor events. A heartbreak for indoor track and field sports lovers, for sure!

But at just 24, Masai already has three titles. And the names she has beaten have the likes of Grace Stark, Christina Clemons, and Alia Armstrong. All of them have been Russell’s known competitors, and she has enviable records against each one of them. So it is about talent, right? Surely. Alexis Ohanian can vouch for that.

Today the entrepreneur took X to reveal his excitement at watching Masai, soaring heights. In his post, Ohanian wrote, “Whoaaaaa wtg,” tagging Russell. The athlete has yet to respond to that. But she will keep it in the corner of her heart. After all, she has just started and is already winning titles and hearts. But how does she keep winning the challenges? 

Masai Russell’s mindset doesn’t deal with losses

Brianna Rollins set the record when she was 25 years old. Masai Russell did it at 24. Moreover, she did it innovatively. How? You may ask. Chasing opponents in the 100 mH is very different from doing so in the 60 mH events. Because of time and distance constraints, the advantage remains. Masai has, however, been on a different mission. In her last few races, she fought from behind to win those. Isn’t it hard? Absolutely. Then how does she manage with that?

Today in her post-race interview, Masai Russell revealed the mystery. She eventually said, “I mean, honestly, I’m just like in the when I’m competing, I’m just like trying to get to the line, so I’m not really thinking about my goal, like I’m behind, I’m behind, I’m just like keep running until you finish and then you see where the cards fall, so that’s just kind of my mindset.”

But the sprinter further continues saying, “And like I said, when I see my name come up number one, I was just elated.” Her elation has yet to face a break-line this year, as she has yet to face defeat. Surely, she is going to miss the global indoor event in a month. But her eyes are fixed on the apple hanging higher. Well, as we said, Masai Russell has just started.