Many athletes would find it difficult to even dream of winning an Olympic medal in their debut season, but Masai Russell achieved not only that but secured the gold. She clinched first place in the 100-meter hurdles at the Paris Olympics, triumphing over Cyrena Samba-Mayela and Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, who had won the same event at the previous Olympics in Tokyo.
This incredible feat was Russell’s first time competing at the Olympic level, and her achievement drew widespread praise. She was even invited to celebrate with the NFL. However, with the excitement of Paris slowly fading, Russell is now confronted with the ongoing challenges within track and field, issues that aren’t always visible during major competitions. Recently, she addressed these in an online vlog.
In her video titled “Masai Russell: Life after Winning the Olympics,” the gold medalist shared segments of an interview where she discussed some of the difficulties in track and field. Russell noted that while track gains significant attention during the Olympics, it struggles to maintain visibility outside of it, largely due to a fragmented broadcasting structure. “If you’re not following a track athlete who posts on their page when the times we’re going to run and what broadcast is on, because there are so many different platforms,” Russell explained. This lack of cohesion, she argued, is why track loses its audience in non-Olympic years. She lamented, “It’s sad because we’re one of the most-watched sports during the Olympics, and people only know about track during the Olympics. Track is a very interesting sport.”
There is hope, however, as new, well-funded projects like Athlos and Grand Slam Track aim to draw more consistent viewership for the sport. Russell joined Grand Slam Track on September 24, alongside her Olympic podium companions Samba-Mayela and Camacho-Quinn, believing the league would enable her to continue competing at a high level. “Coming off the Olympics, I want to continue regularly competing at the highest level, against the best in the world, and I’m certain that Grand Slam Track is the place for that,” she said in a statement when she signed. This was a major win for Grand Slam Track as it secured three top hurdlers for its league.
For Russell, joining Grand Slam Track also means an opportunity to attract a larger audience, aligning with her mission to boost the sport’s visibility. She’s also been involved in Athlos, an initiative supported by Alexis Ohanian, who aims to elevate women’s track and field. During an ESPN interview, Russell acknowledged Ohanian’s work and emphasized the importance of accessible broadcasting for track events. “Track is on; you just don’t know where to find it… Now that we have the eyes aligned with the team that’s trying to show us to the world, I feel like it’s just going to continue to grow.” Russell expressed frustration that someone from outside the track community recognized this need before the sport’s own organizations, adding, “It’s just sad.”
Through her involvement in initiatives like Grand Slam Track and Athlos, Russell is positioning herself as a leading figure in track and field’s future. Her contributions could help shape the sport for years to come.