"People forget I'm still a rookie"- Olympic gold medalist Masai Russell responds to backlash after finishing third at the Zurich Diamond League

By Animesh Pandey

Modified Sep 06, 2024 07:21 GMT

Olympic champion Masai Russell is going through a rough patch. She finished third overall in the women's 100m hurdles event at the recently concluded Zurich Diamond League. This led to a severe backlash for the American hurdler online, with accusations of the Olympic champion taking her status for granted.

However, Russell seemed to be unfazed by the criticism. Making no room for excuses, the Olympic champion mentioned on her X account,

"I think people forget I'm still a rookie"

Masai Russell clocked 12.47 seconds overall, which was lower than her timing recorded at the Silesia Diamond League 2024. Contrary to her fourth place at Silesia, the American finished third at Zurich.

Former Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico, who won the bronze at the Paris Olympics, won the race with a timing of 12.36 seconds, while Olympic silver medalist Cyrena Samba Mayela stood second with a timing of 12.40 seconds.

Masai Russell did not participate in the Lausanne leg of the Diamond League, where Camacho-Quinn had won with a timing of 12.35 seconds. She came second at the Rome Diamond League, with a timing of 12.31 seconds, while Ackera Nugent of Jamaica topped the race with a timing of 12.24 seconds.

---

Masai Russell at the Paris Olympics

Masai Russell of the USA celebrates after winning the 100m hurdles event at the Paris Olympics 2024 [Image Source: Getty]

Masai Russell had no major titles to her credit when she qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024. However, her personal best of 12.25 seconds made her a strong contender for a podium finish.

The journey was not going to be a cakewalk. Russell was facing the defending Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, who held an Olympic record of 12.26 seconds. Also in contention for the gold medal was Tobi Amusan of Nigeria, who had created the world record of 12.12 seconds in 2022.

Russell somehow qualified for the semifinals with a timing of 12.53 seconds. She lost to Jasmine Camacho-Quinn but her timing of 12.42 seconds was more than enough to place her second in the semifinals and help her proceed towards the finals.

In the finals of the women's 100m hurdles, Russell didn't have one of the quickest starts. However, she sustained her speed throughout the race to take it to a photo finish. When the results came out, everyone was surprised. She was the new Olympic champion with a timing of 12.33 seconds.

Samba Mayela finished a close second with a timing of 12.34 seconds while defending champion Camacho-Quinn had to settle for a bronze medal, with an overall timing of 12.36 seconds. Russell will hope to make the cut for the Diamond League finals, which will be held in Brussels on 13-14 September.