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Today’s episode's incredibly special. Not only is it the Season 20 premiere of Hurdle, but we're bringing you my conversation with the American Record Holder and Olympic Champion in the 100-meter hurdles, Masai Russell.
Fresh off her win at Athlos in New York City, Russell joins us to peel back the curtain on the mindset that allowed her to make the U.S. Olympic team, emerge victorious on the world stage, and break records in the process. This conversation was filmed live at Nike’s New York headquarters in front of an incredible audience, many of whom were gearing up for the New York City Marathon. It’s a motivational pre-game for any big moment, whether we’re talking about sport—or beyond.
In the episode, Masai is incredibly candid about the struggles she faced in her first professional year, the adversity she had to overcome, and the mental shift she made to change her entire career trajectory. She also shares why, in her mind, she never fails, and how that perspective helps her turn every setback into a blessing.
I've also got a big announcement: Today, Hurdle joins iHeart Women's Sports Network! A massive milestone years in the making, thanks so much for being a part of this community and following along for the ride.
IN THIS EPISODE
- The competitive fire Masai developed by growing up with older brothers.
- Why Masai made the surprising choice to follow her coach and transfer to the University of Kentucky.
- The essential self-belief required to succeed at an elite level.
- Her mindset in the starting blocks for the 100m hurdles.
- Why showing up for yourself, even on bad days, is crucial to building success.
- The adversity and mental challenges she faced during her first professional year.
- The daily journaling and self-talk practices that shape her mindset.
- Why her tough finish (4th place) at the World Championships was ultimately the best thing for her.
- Her advice for dealing with the pressure and expectations of social media fame.
- Her big goals: from buying a house at 24 to breaking the World Record and winning in Los Angeles in 2028.
QUOTABLE MOMENTS
On the power of belief:
"I just told myself when I got out there on the line, whatever's going to happen is going to happen, and I think once I kind of let the my ego go and let what I thought I should be or what the expectations of what people put on to me, once I let all that go out the door, I just felt free."
On why she never fails:
"I'll never fail because it's always a lesson to turn me into what the world will see. And that's always my mindset."
On her mindset in the starting blocks:
"There's nothing more that's going to change or the outcome isn't going to change. Literally just show up and be, and whatever that outcome is going to be, that's just what it is, and you have to be okay with it."
On her mental tools:
"It's literally just about like what I feel in that moment at that time, at that day. It could be like, 'Go out there, kill it, lock in, zone out, be you!' ... or it could be just like whatever is literally on my heart and mind."
SOCIAL
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@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
@iheartwomenssports
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Show notes42m
Video
Masai Russell came dressed like a champ and ran through a wind tunnel in Jamaica. Miami’s forecast? Fast and fabulous. 🏝️💁♀️
Video
We won’t be seeing Masai Russell in the Long Hurdles group anytime soon. 🤣 Kemal Forde caught up with the Olympic champ, who’s putting her 100m speed to the test this Slam season — and keeping it real about how competitive the hurdles field is.
Video
A special interview with Masai Russell and now she’s an Olympic gold medalist 🥇 #FloTrackMeetUp
FloTrack
7 months ago
Website: http://flosports.link/3p20lTj Subscribe: http://flosports.link/3p4YLQp Get the FloSports iOS app: http://bit.ly/FloTrackiOSApp_9 Follow FloTrack Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FloTrack Twitter: https://twitter.com/flotrack Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FloTrack
Video
Keep moving forward and doing epic things 💪
Video
Masai Russell After Winning USA Indoor Championships 60mH Title, Will Skip World Indoors
CITIUS MAG
9 months ago
Masai Russell after running 7.74 for the 60mH title at the 2025 U.S. Indoor Track and Field Championships in NYC. LIVE RESULTS: https://results.usatf.org/2025indoors/ PREVIEW: https://citiusmag.com/articles/usatf-indoor-championships-2025-preview FOLLOW CITIUS MAG ▶ Subscribe to the podcast: https://apple.co/3Byp72I ▶ On Twitter: http://twitter.com/CitiusMag ▶ On Instagram: http://instagram.com/citiusmag ▶ On Facebook: http://facebook.com/citiusmag ▶ Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/citiusmag ▶ On our website: http://citiusmag.com For other inquiries, contact us: chris@citiusmag.com Thanks for watching - please like, share and comment, and subscribe! Help us continue to bring track and field to your home and become a member today! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjyDlyHPHLhcIT8ov53d5qg/join
Video
FloTrack's Johnny Pace, Demitra Carter, and Nia Gibson preview top events and stories and catch up with some of track & field's biggest stars including Quincy Wilson, Masai Russell, and Monae' Nichols at Ocean Breeze Indoor Athletic Center ahead of the 2025 USATF Indoor Championships. Presented by Wonderful Pistachios Website: http://flosports.link/3p20lTj Subscribe: http://flosports.link/3p4YLQp Get the FloSports iOS app: http://bit.ly/FloTrackiOSApp_9 Follow FloTrack Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FloTrack Twitter: https://twitter.com/flotrack Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FloTrack
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Masai Russell On Her Time At The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, Ready For USA Championships
FloTrack
9 months ago
Masai Russell gives her thoughts about the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game but is ready to race at the 2025 USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships. For more from the USATF Indoor Championships, visit: https://flosports.link/4i9YDu5 Website: http://flosports.link/3p20lTj Subscribe: http://flosports.link/3p4YLQp Get the FloSports iOS app: http://bit.ly/FloTrackiOSApp_9 Follow FloTrack Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FloTrack Twitter: https://twitter.com/flotrack Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FloTrack
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Olympic champion Masai Russell blazes to 60m hurdles world lead 🔥 | World Indoor Tour 2025
World Athletics
10 months ago
Subscribe to our channel - https://www.youtube.com/worldathletics ⭐️ Watch exclusive videos on Inside Track - https://worldathletics.org/videos ⭐️ ⭐️ Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/WorldAthletics ⭐️ ⭐️ Follow us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WorldAthletics/ ⭐️ ⭐️ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/worldathletics/ ⭐️ ⭐️ Follow us on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@worldathletics/ ⭐️ Make sure you subscribe for athletics highlights, interviews with the athletes, training tips and more!
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Olympic Champ Masai Russell Previews Millrose Games 60m Hurdles + Playing in the NBA All-star Game
CITIUS MAG
10 months ago
100m hurdles Olympic champion Masai Russell ahead of the women's 60m hurdles at the 2025 Millrose Games held at The Armory in NYC on February 8th. FOLLOW CITIUS MAG ▶ Subscribe to the podcast: https://apple.co/3Byp72I ▶ On Twitter: http://twitter.com/CitiusMag ▶ On Instagram: http://instagram.com/citiusmag ▶ On Facebook: http://facebook.com/citiusmag ▶ Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/citiusmag ▶ On our website: http://citiusmag.com For other inquiries, contact us: chris@citiusmag.com Thanks for watching - please like, share and comment, and subscribe! Help us continue to bring track and field to your home and become a member today! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjyDlyHPHLhcIT8ov53d5qg/join
Video
Olympic champ Masai Russell rules in Boston ‼️ #running #athletics #usa #sports #olympics
World Athletics
10 months ago
Subscribe to our channel - https://www.youtube.com/worldathletics ⭐️ Watch exclusive videos on Inside Track - https://worldathletics.org/videos ⭐️ ⭐️ Follow us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/WorldAthletics ⭐️ ⭐️ Follow us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WorldAthletics/ ⭐️ ⭐️ Follow us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/worldathletics/ ⭐️ ⭐️ Follow us on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@worldathletics/ ⭐️ Make sure you subscribe for athletics highlights, interviews with the athletes, training tips and more!
Video
Masai Russell All About Momentum In 2025! Another Big Win At The New Balance Grand Prix
FloTrack
10 months ago
Masai Russell details the win for her at the New Balance Grand Prix and her continued wave of momentum in 2025. She took the win at the New Balance Grand Prix with a 7.80 (SB). #NBIndoorGP Website: http://flosports.link/3p20lTj Subscribe: http://flosports.link/3p4YLQp Get the FloSports iOS app: http://bit.ly/FloTrackiOSApp_9 Follow FloTrack Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FloTrack Twitter: https://twitter.com/flotrack Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FloTrack
Video
Olympic Hurdles Champion Masai Russell Wins NB Indoor Grand Prix 60m Hurdles In 7.80
CITIUS MAG
10 months ago
FOLLOW CITIUS MAG ▶ Subscribe to the podcast: https://apple.co/3Byp72I ▶ On Twitter: http://twitter.com/CitiusMag ▶ On Instagram: http://instagram.com/citiusmag ▶ On Facebook: http://facebook.com/citiusmag ▶ Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/citiusmag ▶ On our website: http://citiusmag.com For other inquiries, contact us: chris@citiusmag.com Thanks for watching - please like, share and comment, and subscribe! Help us continue to bring track and field to your home and become a member today! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjyDlyHPHLhcIT8ov53d5qg/join
Video
Join Noah Lyles, Rai Benjamin, Grant Holloway, plus Jessica Hull, Grant Fisher, Masai Russell, Vernon Norwood, and Trayvon Bromell live from Boston at the New Balance Grand Prix! Special co-host from the amazing @TotalRunningProductions!
Video
Olympic gold medalist @masairussell and World Indoor Champion & record holder Devynne Charlton train at the University of Kentucky under Coach Greene. On their state-of-the-art indoor track, they fine-tune their race strategies with a focused hurdles session. Their workout includes: Hurdle drills to refine technique Explosive starts to the first hurdle Full 60m hurdle sprints Repeat 100m runs with walk recovery Watch these elite hurdlers in action as they push their limits and prepare for competition! Shot by John Davern, Demitra Carter, Johnny Pace Edited by Johnny Pace @pacephoto Website: http://flosports.link/3p20lTj Subscribe: http://flosports.link/3p4YLQp Get the FloSports iOS app: http://bit.ly/FloTrackiOSApp_9 Follow FloTrack Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FloTrack Twitter: https://twitter.com/flotrack Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FloTrack