Masai Russell Sets New 100m Hurdles World Record

American athlete Masai Russell set a new world record in the 100m hurdles, further cementing her legacy alongside her Olympic gold medal in the event. Russell achieved this feat at the Diamond League meet in Zurich, Switzerland, completing the race in 12.09 seconds. This performance shaved three hundredths of a second off the previous record held by Nigerian Tobi Amusan, set during the 2022 World Championships.

Tobi Amusan finished as the runner-up in Zurich, clocking 12.23 seconds. Russell, hailing from Washington, D.C. and 26 years old, had previously recorded the second- and third-fastest times in history, trailing Amusan’s world record. In May 2026, she ran 12.14 seconds, and in May 2025, she recorded 12.17 seconds. She also tied the fourth-fastest time in history in August 2025, with a time of 12.19 seconds.

Following her record-breaking run, Russell gestured by placing her index finger to her lips—an expression of defiance to online critics. ‘I see what people say online,’ Russell remarked. She continued, ‘People were like, ‘Masai’s PB by the end of her career’s going to be 12.14.’ I bookmarked that. I can’t wait to quote-tweet that because I’m just like, y’all really doubted me? Every time y’all doubt me I just show y’all that I’m not like anybody else.’

Russell’s new world record was run with zero wind, emphasizing its significance. Though Amusan still holds the fastest ever time in all conditions—12.06 seconds—her record benefited from a 2.5 meter/second tailwind, exceeding the 2.0 limit for record eligibility. Russell commented on her achievement, saying, ‘If we get a 1.9 wind behind my back, that could have been a sub-12 race. Everything that I’ve said that I wanted to do has come into fruition, so why not say I think I can be the first one to run sub-12?’

Russell mirrors Bulgarian Yordanka Donkova’s accomplishment, becoming the first woman to capture Olympic gold and a world record in the 100m hurdles since Donkova in 1988, whose record stood until 2016 when American Keni Harrison broke it. Russell and Harrison are the only U.S. women to hold the 100m hurdles world record. Ja’Kobe Tharp remains the only American male to hold a world record in an individual running event on the Olympic program.