I wanted to quit’– Masai Russell opens up about overcoming struggles on her road to Olympic glory

Masai Russell has shared her struggles leading up to Olympic gold revealing the mental battles that nearly made her quit.

Olympic champion Masai Russell has captured the world’s attention with her incredible performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but her journey to the top was far from easy.

In a recent interview with The Pivot, the 24-year-old hurdler shared a heartfelt account of the trials and challenges she faced on her way to Olympic gold.

Having wrapped up her 2024 season following the Athlos NYC meet, where she placed third in the 100m hurdles, Russell reflected on her mindset in the months leading up to the Olympics.

With just one win to her name in 2024 — a race that just happened to be the biggest of her life — Russell’s path was defined by perseverance, faith, and a determination not to give up, even when things seemed insurmountable.

“I wanted to quit. I am not going to lie, it was hard,” Russell admitted, recalling the difficult training days leading to her Olympic victory.

“I just told myself that on the other side of this there was going to be something, like, I don’t know what it is, I am just not going to stop, I am not going to stop, and I think that just built the savage in me.”