This year has been an absolute whirlwind: heartbreaks, surprises, and so many unforgettable moments. And come on, it was an Olympic year! If you were part of it, you’re basically part of history. That’s exactly how 24-year-old Masai Russell must feel after her incredible journey. She burst onto the scene in Paris, making her Olympic debut and absolutely dominating the 100m hurdles to take home the gold. And as if that wasn’t legendary enough, she capped it all off by buying her first house.

But wait, Russell didn’t stop there. She kept the momentum going at Athlos, the groundbreaking women-only track meet, where she continued to prove she was the real deal. And then Harvard came knocking, inviting her to speak at their Women’s Athletics Forum. Picture this: she’s fresh off her Olympic high, standing in front of the future, sharing her story of glory. Now, she’s working on a book about her Olympic experience; honestly, we can’t wait to read it. 2024 was her year, no doubt about it. She’s unstoppable, and it feels like she’s just getting started. But how is she feeling about all this after the post-Olympic win? Well, she recently revealed!

Masai Russell’s unforgettable post-Olympic experiences

Four months after her historic win at the Paris Olympics, Masai Russell opened up about the joy and opportunities that have followed her gold medal victory. During a recent interview on the CITIUS MAG YouTube channel, titled “Olympic Champion Masai Russell On Life After 100m Hurdles Gold In Paris + 2025 Goals And Records,” she shared her excitement about life after the Olympics. When asked about the coolest opportunity she’s had since winning gold, Russell recalled some unforgettable experiences.

Russell met many NBA athletes like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and more. She explained, “The coolest one, probably to me, has to have been courtside at the Celtics game. I was right next to the check-in box, with the head coach just walking right past me. All the players were coming and checking in, so that was really cool.” Back in November 2024, she had an awesome moment courtside at a Boston Celtics game against the Toronto Raptors. She kept it casual yet chic for the event, wearing a white cropped hoodie with matching sweatpants. To complete the look, she threw on a puffer vest for some extra warmth and added a few bracelets to top it off.

Russell further added, “Then, going to the Ravens game—the fans, the crowd—they just showed so much love.” Back in early October, she got to experience that love firsthand at a star-studded Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills game in Baltimore. The Ravens pulled off a win, and it was like a mini celebration in the stands, with a bunch of athletes there to cheer them on. Track stars like Kenny Bednarek and Twanisha Terry, along with basketball legends like Angel Reese and Bub Carrington, were all there, adding to the electric vibe of the game.

Reflecting on these moments, Masai Russell added, “And, I mean, the White House was really cool too. Even though that wasn’t a single, individualized moment for me, I think it was still just cool to be at the White House, getting honored as one of the best athletes in the world. So, all the experiences have been amazing, but those are probably my top three for sure.” Back in October, Russell had the opportunity to visit the White House, where she met President Joe Biden. During the visit, Biden praised her and the other athletes who were invited, including stars like Torri Huske, Quincy Wilson, and more. Russell’s post-Olympic life has been filled with incredible moments. But still, Russell’s got a different challenge on her hands now.

After Olympic gold, Masai Russell faces a good headache

Back in August, Masai Russell had an unforgettable moment at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She crossed the finish line to win gold in the Women’s 100m Hurdles Final at the Stade de France. The race was a nail-biter, especially with France’s Cyrena Samba-Mayela taking off with a strong lead and the crowd going wild. For a second, it looked like the home team might finally get a medal, but Russell wasn’t about to let that happen. After running a season-best 12.25 seconds at the U.S. Trials, the 24-year-old American came charging down the track, catching up to Samba-Mayela and pushing hard to the finish. The two went neck-and-neck, and the tension was so thick you could feel it in the stands. After a tense wait for the results, the big screen confirmed Russell as the winner with a time of 12.33 seconds. But despite her Olympic triumph, Russell’s got a different challenge on her hands now.

Moving into her new home, Rusell shared with her fans on TikTok that while she’s excited about the big purchase, the whole moving process has been a bit overwhelming. “I’m just trying to figure out the best way to move because I feel like I can do it in a week, and I’m like, ‘Oh, I don’t want to add that much stress,'” she said. The details of the house remain a secret, but she’s been dealing with the usual moving dilemmas—like deciding what to keep, sell, or give away. In one of her TikTok videos, she asked her followers for advice on what to do with a couch she’s not sure about, adding to the list of small but important decisions that come with moving.

It’s a good kind of headache, though. Masai Russell’s had an outstanding year, and after becoming the first American 100m hurdles Olympic champion since 2016, she’s already setting her sights on her next big goal: the World Championships in Tokyo in 2025. But for now, she’s just trying to get through the moving chaos, tackling it like she does every hurdle—one step at a time.