‘That gold was huge’ - McLaughlin-Levrone still astonished by Masai Russell’s Olympics heroics

‘That gold was huge’ - McLaughlin-Levrone still astonished by Masai Russell’s Olympics heroics

Joel Omotto 19:03 - 21.09.2024

Olympics champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has waxed lyrical about the impact of Masai Russell’s surprise gold medal at the Paris 2025 Games.

Olympics 400m hurdles champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone has revealed her delight at seeing fellow University of Kentucky (UK) product Masai Russell win an Olympics gold medal.

Russel was the surprise winner of the 100m hurdles gold at the Paris Olympics, flooring experienced runners like Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, to win in a time of 12.33 seconds.

The 24-year-old is an alumnus of the Univeristy of Kentucky Class of 2022 and with the institution also represented by Camacho-Quinn and men’s 110m hurdles silver medalist Daniel Roberts, McLaughlin-Levrone was in awe of Russell’s performance since she was not among those tipped to claim gold.

"Watching her race was just amazing," McLaughlin-Levrone said of Russell on Friday after she was inducted into the UK Athletics Hall of Fame.

"Even Daniel Roberts. I know Masai winning that gold was huge, so I'm sure being able to come back here and kind of share that with the community has just been great. So, it's really 'Hurdle U.' ... It's just really cool to be a part of."

Russell had sent a warning to her rivals when she won the US Olympics trials in late June in a personal best 12.25 seconds to qualify for the Games but few still gave her a chance at victory.

With the spotlight on her more illustrious opponents, Russell ran without the pressure of expectations to clinch her first-ever Olympics title.

It was a great outing in Paris for the UK products as besides McLaughlin-Levrone’s gold in 400m hurdles, she also broke the world record in the process (50.37) and was part of Team USA that won 4x400m relay title.

Camacho-Quinn, meanwhile, managed bronze for Puerto Rico as Roberts clinched a silver for Team USA.

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