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Olympic champion Masai Russell faced criticism after a third-place finish but addressed detractors, asserting her growth during her rookie season.
Olympic champion Masai Russell has slammed the backlash she received online following her third-place finish in the women's 100m hurdles at the Zurich Diamond League on Thursday night.
Despite her performance, Russell faced harsh criticism from fans and commentators alike accusing her of taking her elite status for granted.
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22:54 - 05.09.2024
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn shocks Olympic champion Masai Russell with women's 100m hurdles sweet victory
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn has bounced back to her winning ways, earning revenge over Masai Russell at the Diamond League Meeting in Zurich.
However, the American hurdler remains resilient emphasizing her ongoing development in the sport.
The race was tightly contested, with Jasmine Camacho-Quinn clinching first place in a blistering 12.36 seconds, and Cyrena Samba-Mayela close behind at 12.40 seconds.
Russell, who completed the race in 12.47 seconds has shown consistency in her times yet the expectation placed on her as an Olympic champion has intensified the scrutiny she faces.
Addressing the criticism on her X (formerly Twitter) account, Russell stated: "I think people forget I'm still a rookie."
Russell's journey since the Olympics has been marked by a mix of stellar performances and tough lessons.
At the Silesia Diamond League, she finished fourth, a slight dip compared to her podium finish in Zurich.
This variability is not unusual in sports but is often magnified under the spotlight of recent Olympic success.
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In contrast at the Rome Diamond League, she secured a second-place finish with a commendable time of 12.31 seconds.
The criticisms following Zurich seem to stem from high expectations set by her Olympic triumph.
Looking forward Russell is set to compete in the upcoming Diamond League final in Brussels where she aims to solidify her status and perhaps silence her critics.
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