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."
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You could create the life that you want. It doesn't matter,
the age, doesn't matter the time. Like you could start
today by just putting yourself first and speaking positive things
over your so positive things over your life.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Hey hey, Emily body here. You are listening to season
twenty of Hurdle. Today's the season premiere episode, and I
could not be heavier to have you joining me, not
only because today I'm bringing you my conversation with Massai Russell.
She's the American record holder and Olympic champion in the
one hundred meter hurdles. We had this conversation alive last
(00:48):
week here in New York. But today's a really special day,
and that is because today Hurdle officially joins the iHeart
Women's Sports Network.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Insert applause here.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I oh my goodness.
It's been something that's been in the works for quite
some time. I feel so many ways about it. I've
been podcasting for almost eight years now. And if you
were to tell me eight years ago when I started
doing this, that I would be joining such a stellar
group of shows and be supported by such a phenomenal network, yeah,
(01:23):
I don't know if I would have believed you.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
But here we are.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
And I am elated. Hurdle moving forward. Nothing new that
you have to do as a listener unless you are
now checking us out for the first time, in which
welcome you are now officially a hurdler. Make sure you
slam that subscribe button. What can you expect week after
week on Hurdle. I'm bringing you the true stories in
the mindset secrets of the most inspiring women in sport
(01:48):
and wellness. My goal here is to peel back the
curtain on the grit, glory and vulnerable journeys.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Of the best to ever do it.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
You'll still have five minute Friday, You'll still have new
episodes every Tuesday, and you already know I am sticking
to my mission to empower you to live a healthier, happier,
more motivated life. Last little bit of housekeeping. If you're
new here again, my name's Emily. I'm a wellness coach,
a veteran journalist living here in Brooklyn, New York, with
(02:17):
almost two decades of experience telling stories within the woman's
sports space. I'm the former fitness editor at Self Magazine.
I'm also a certified trainer, run coach, and a certified
professional coach, which you can liken to a life coach.
And I use all of this knowledge and education to
make sure that I am having safe and productive conversations
(02:40):
here on the show. Let's talk about mass I, like
I said, a stellar athlete who has had quite a year,
most recently finishing her season with a win at Athlos
in New York City. This conversation filmed live in front
of an audience at Nike's New York headquarters, a motivational pregame,
if you will, for so many of the individuals in
(03:02):
the room that were preparing to run the New York
City Marathon. And wow, wow, wow, what a time we had.
In today's conversation, Beside talks.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
To us about her struggles.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
She shares what it was like for her to make
her first US Olympic team and not only compete in Paris,
but emerge victorious as the Olympic Champion, bringing home the gold.
So many of the women that were in attendance told
me afterward as they came up and said hi, that
they took down notes as we were talking. My favorite
(03:34):
part about this conversation Massi's point of view on failure
and that well, she never fails I want to say
thank you to all of you for sticking with me
over the last eight years. It's an emotional day for me.
It's a special time and I would love your support
to get everybody else amped about this new chapter. So
make sure you're following along with Hurdle over on social
(03:55):
It's at Hurdle Podcast. Make sure you're keeping up with
I hurt Women's Sports over at I Heart Women's Sports
on Instagram, and of course I'm over at Emily a Body.
Share today's episode with a friend, and make sure you're
subscribed to our weekly Hurdle Substack. It's our newsletter that
comes out every single Friday. Bring you so much of
the same inspiration and motivation you love from the show,
(04:18):
plus my gear picks what I'm reading, listening to watching
directly in your inbox.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
With that, let's get to it. Let's get to hurdling MESSI. Hi,
welcome to New York.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Thank you A little different than Kentucky, it is it
is your event, a little bit different than the marathon,
very much so for some context here MASSI won the
Olympics in twelve point three three seconds.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Thank you guys.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
We're gonna do a little game later to see what
some of you can do in twelve point three three seconds.
I know I certainly can't run one hundred meters in
tire three three seconds, but just just.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Wait on that.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Anyway, I like to kick off our conversation on the
show by doing a level set.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
How are you doing? Really?
Speaker 4 (05:26):
I'm actually doing great.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Yeah, you know.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
I'm taking some time from track right now. I'm in
the off season. Had a really long year, did indoor outdoor.
I just wrapped up my season October tenth, actually in
New York, three weeks ago, one net. So I'm just
taking some time for myself and just making sure that
I'm giving myself that break mentally so that I can
(05:50):
continue to show up and you guys can continue to
watch me win more medals at the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Never gets old saying something like that, And I mean
saw toting of the win at Athlos. Let's hear it
from Asi. That event is such a special thing to
be a part of. I mean, this room so special
because we're all in community with women, but that the
exact same thing. How did it feel for you to
not only be a part of that this year but
(06:17):
then just take home that w.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Yeah, last year, I didn't get the W and it
was the first one, so I was like, I want
to win the first one and that didn't happen. But
I think this time around definitely meant more. Serena Williams
literally crowned us, So I'm like, who wouldn't want to
be crowned by Serena? Like, but yeah, I mean it's
super on brand for literally what we're doing here, just
women in community and just women pushing each other, women
(06:40):
supporting each other. And like I said, I won this
time around, it meant a little more because Serena was there,
so another great women in sports was able to crown
me who's so decorated herself.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
It was just like amazing.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Bring me back to like twelve year old MESSI because
you just said and Serena Williams crowned me.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Can you even imagine at.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Twelve years old looking at your future self and being like, hey,
one day, you know what I.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Mean, I'm honestly trying to think of who I was
when I was twelve. That was before high school, so
I didn't really know what was going on. But if
you would have told little Massaiah that she was honestly
within a foot from Serena, she probably would have been
(07:32):
running around the house and going crazy. So it's really
insane to see what my life has turned into. The
rooms that I've been able to enter, the people I've
been able to talk to, it's just a blessing. And honestly,
when you put your mind in something and when you
believe in the unknown, honestly, great things happen.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Great things happen, and for you, a lot of unknown
except you knew that you wanted to run. There's six
of you in your face, and ly six total siblings,
and you yourself grew up watching your brother's run track,
Is that right?
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Yeah, So it was too older than me, one younger
than me.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
I was the only girl at the time, and I
was like, all right, I'm just trying to.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
Keep up with my brothers.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
And I think that just like pushed me to be
like competitive, and I think that that's what has still
to this day instilled that competitiveness in me to just
like want for more, you know, just always trying to
prove myself.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Always trying to prove yourself to yourself.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
And I think that's actually a really great point for
us to kick off here on is that essential self
belief that is required for you to do what you
do from a young age. Where did you get that from?
Was that taught to you by your parents? Did that
come I know you're really inspired by your mother. From
your mother or where did that sense of self belief
(08:52):
really begin for you?
Speaker 1 (08:53):
I think it was a couple of different things that
kind of went into that. I think, like I said, starting,
I think my brother's just the way that we grew
up kind of help with that competitiveness. And then once again,
like you just mentioned my mom she's a doctor, just
seeing her get up every day and just work towards
something every day.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
I wasn't like that.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
With school, but I mean, like I got a grit,
Let me just throw that out there. But the drive
that I have on the track is like the way
that I see my mom drive towards like being on
call and showing up for patience and going.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
To the hospital.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
So that's I would say that that's the biggest thing
that has pretty much made me the person that I am,
which those two definitely, and my dad just like supported
me and he was like my coach for a small
period of time. But yeah, my brother's just trying to
keep up with the boys, you know, just trying to
be competitive in that sense and trying to keep up,
and then just seeing the grid that my mom had
(09:48):
to just continue to want for more and to push herself.
And you know, I just seen that as a young girl,
and I just took that on the track every single day.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Take it on the track every day.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Now, you followed that self belief and you brought that
grit with you to the University of Kentucky. I know
that wasn't original area where you thought that you were
gonna go to college.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Let's talk a little bit about that.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
How did it feel for you to trust your gut
and take that leap to go to Kentucky.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
Yeah, it just felt right. I initially was supposed to
be going to the University of Tennessee, but some coaching
changes kind of happened, and from there, I just was like,
all right, I'm gonna follow the coach that recruited me,
so I'm gonna go over to Kentucky. And it, like
I said, it just felt right. I wasn't too excited
to go to Tennessee. I was just going there for
(10:38):
the coach. So when the coach was like all right,
I'm going to Kentucky. Are you gonna come with me?
I still have everything in place. I'm like, yeah, let's
do it. And it ended up being the best school
out of all the schools that I visited. To this day,
I'm still there. I still live here nowhere like New York,
and it's super different from even where I'm from. I'm
from Maryland, the DMV area, so I'm very familiar with
(11:00):
New York, just coming here a lot as a young athlete,
so very different than the East Coast. But yeah, it
just made sense. Like I said, I'm still there, still
with the same coach. I'm like, if it's not broke,
there's nothing to fix. So for me, it's just worked out.
And I bought a house last year. So yeah, I mean,
(11:22):
oh yeah, we.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Women applauding women for their success.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
Yeah, thanks, thanks. I know it's like a big deal.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
But like my problem sometimes is like I'm just like sewing,
Like I'm always trying to get to the next thing,
and I don't always take a step to realize where
I'm at. But like anytime I tell someone that, they're like,
that's insane. You bought a house at twenty four and
I'm like, yeah, I did so it's a blessing. It's
definitely a blessing.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
But yeah, raise your hand.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
If you two are always in a rush to get
to the next thag, I'm always like, okay, I'm not
even gonna SKay alone.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
Yeah, you're not alone, not alone at all.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
And we will say this for those of you, all
of you running on Sunday, we want to make sure
that you take the time to celebrate this accomplishment. It's
such a special moment, regardless of the outcome. Making it
to that starting line at all is a massive, massive
thing to celebrate. Now, you said I bought a house
(12:18):
at twenty four. You're twenty five. Now.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
You also mentioned being a young athlete.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
You are pretty early on in this How does it
feel for you to have found so much success at
such a young age.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
It feels amazing, of course, And of course there's still
more things that I want to accomplish, and I think
for me, this guy's limitless. So I do view myself
as a very successful person. But until I check off
some more boxes, I think I'll still have more to
work towards. Of course, and in the professional space, it
(12:57):
doesn't make you easy so yeah, blessed, I'm just so
like relentless.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Checking off some more boxes. Let's talk about some of
the boxes you've already checked. American record holder. Bring us
to that race, and let's start at the beginning. And
by the beginning, I mean, what does Messi Russell think
about in the starting box?
Speaker 1 (13:21):
I think the build up before the blocks is the
most important thing because honestly, once for me want I'm
on the track and want someone on the line, there's
nothing more that's gonna change or the outcome isn't gonna change.
So that's even something that you guys can take to
the marathon, like you put all the work in, You've
done everything you could do, like literally just show up
and be in whatever that outcome is gonna be. That's
(13:43):
just what it is, and you have to be okay
with it.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
You have to accept it.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
And that's just you know, for me, that's always been
my mindset. So once I step foot on the line,
it's it's just like the time is now, like allow
whatever's meant to happen to happen. You can't change the
outcome and literally just be That's what I tell myself.
And once the gun goes off, nothing else matters. I'm
(14:07):
kind of blacked out. I know, for me, it's twelve seconds.
For y'all's twenty six miles. But I heard that runners
highs is such a thing, So get into that mindset,
in that mode, and y'all gonna do great.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
You're gonna do great.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
She's like, I've never had the opportunity to personally experience
runners high.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
Yeah, I heard of it.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
I heard of it.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
But unlike some other short distance runners, I will say
that Massai used to run cross country.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
So she she's run a mile.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
You ask some other sprinters, they've never run a consecutive mile.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Yeah, She's like, yeah, I know, I'm gonna tell.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
Yeah, I haven't went over two miles, but I used
to do cross country.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Well, we love to hear it, and I really appreciate this.
You're gonna show up, and this is how it is now. Mentality.
Now that is something that isn't exactly easy to arrive at,
A mentality that's for some.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Hard to adopt.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Were you always this way when it came to competition,
or is this a skill that you've refined over time
by putting in the reps and showing up time and
time again.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Yeah, I feel like I always had like a very
confident mindset, but I didn't have it directed to what
I wanted out of my life.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
For so long, I always came up short. I never won.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Me honestly, when in the Olympics was a shock to
ninety nine percent of the people that know track and
that watch track. But to the people that were in
my circle, it wasn't a surprise. And I say that
to say, it doesn't really matter what you have coming in.
It's just like the mindset that you take when you arrive.
And I was always second place. I was always national
(15:49):
runner up. I was always third or second, even like
from a kid, I could never pull off the wind.
And I think once I shifted my mindset to it
actually being directed towards something I kind of focused on.
Like I'm trying to think of how to say this
(16:10):
and not sound like cocky, but it's like you really
just have to tell yourself, like who you are or
what you want or what you want to become. And
you know, people say it's cocky, some people say it's confidence,
but you know, when you're a sprinter like myself or
even just like a competitor, you have to think of
yourself in a somewhat of a higher way to get
(16:33):
to what you want. And I'm a professional athlete, so
you know, it's a little different. I feel like my
mindset may be a little different than you guys, but
you guys can still take on this mindset. And like
I said, for me, it was a lot of self talk,
It was a lot of writing down my goals. It
was a lot of honestly delusion. And you know, I
feel like we put a lot of negative thoughts into
(16:54):
not being or not doing. But it's like, just as
delusional as it is to not believe, you could be
as delusional as it can happen, and you believe that
it will happen. So it's just about like yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
She's like, okay, Yeah, it's literally just like.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Yeah, it's a mindset thing.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
And you know, for me, the mind is literally the
controller of everything that you do. So you know, if
I say I want to break the world records, so
one can say that's impossible, but I could say it's possible,
and then it's only impossible until it happens. So just
direct the delusion in a way that's beneficial to y'all.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
I love everything about this. I love going after for
what it is that you want. I love speaking your
goals and do existence. I truly believe that you don't
get to get what you want until you cann't put
words to what that is.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
So it's such a special lesson.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
I also appreciate what you said about having a really
hard year going into the Olympics.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Let's talk a little bit about that.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
Yeah, it was my first year professional. As most people know,
this is last year, first year I'm out of college.
She was my first time being on the professional circuit,
competing against other professionals, especially the ones that you've looked
up to and who have Olympic champion medals, who have
world medals, who've broken the world record, you know. So
(18:12):
it definitely is a very humbling place coming out of
college being the collegiate record holder, fastest college punching meter
hurdler of all time, and then you're coming into the
professional realm and it's like no one cares about anything
you just did in college. You got to do it
again and do it better. So for me, yeah, I
had a pretty tough year. I wasn't sponsored initially before
(18:34):
I signed with Nike, so I was supporting myself. I
was competing on the road by myself, with no sponsor,
and you know, it's just a lot that mentally buried
on me. And you know, I knew that the Olympics
was around the corner, but I just kind of like,
let the Olympics come when it was meant to come,
you know. Of course, like everyone else in the world's
(18:54):
like Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, I'm like, I'm just trying
to show up right now, you know. So, so that
was the main thing for me that was on my mind,
was just to show up for myself every single day,
just keep one foot in front of the other and
just continue to show up.
Speaker 4 (19:09):
And yeah, like I didn't win.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
A single race until the US Championships, and I think
the main thing that pretty much helped me to pull
off that win. It was my first time ever winning
anything at a national level, was my first time went
in a national title, and I ended up breaking the
Olympic trials record. I just shifted my mindset, like I
knew mentally, like I just wasn't aligned with my body
(19:36):
and I wasn't locked in, and I knew I put
the reps in. I knew I put the work in
just like you guys like put you put the work
in everything that you've done up until now, Like you
put the work in, like literally just give yourself a
chance and you surprise yourself. So I just told myself
when I got out there on the line, like whatever's
gonna happen is gonna happen.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
And I think once I kind of let.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Let my ego go and let what I thought I
should be or what the expectations of what people put
onto me.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
Once I let all.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
That go out the door, I just like felt free
and I ran through those ten hurdles and it was
the best race of my life at that time. Won
the Olympic Trials, I was like, wow, I'm literally considered
an Olympian now, like and I was a dream for
so long, and I actually lost faith at a point
in my life where I didn't believe that I could
(20:26):
even be an Olympian. So to even now be sitting
here as an Olympic champion, Like, it's just crazy what
you could do when you put your mind to something.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
So yeah, I mean that's really the story.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
That's the story.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
Two things I want to double click on the first
thing is how do you do it?
Speaker 3 (21:04):
And by it, I mean, how.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Do you pick yourself up on the days that you
don't feel so shiny and so capable, Because that is
something that I'm sure all of us can really relate
to what worked for you.
Speaker 4 (21:18):
I think the main thing that worked for me.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
I'm just a very positive person, So regardless of whatever
situation I'm going through, I just try to stay as
positive as possible.
Speaker 4 (21:27):
And I've always said like, I've had.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
A pretty good life for the most part, So last
year was like pretty much like in terms of track
and field, that was the most adversity that I've ever felt,
not winning races, not doing good, not being the person
that everyone expected for me to be. I'm coming out
of from college being the collegiate record holder to now
running times that I haven't seen since I was like
(21:51):
a freshman or sophomore in college. So for me, I
at that moment, I feel like when you put things
out there and when you say things, it's like you're
gonna get said on those things. So I'm like, all right,
now I'm in the situation where you know, I was positive.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
It's easy to be positive.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
When everything's going in your favor, but now it's time
to be positive and literally practice what you preach when
you're now in a situation where it's not looking the
way that you want it to be. So for me personally,
my biggest advice is to literally just continue to show
up for yourself however that looks, even if it's not
in the way.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
That you want it to be.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Just continuing to just show up is the best thing
that you can do. I think, like it just builds
so much mental fortitude and it just it proves to you,
to you and yourself that like, regardless of how you feel,
you can, you just got to get up.
Speaker 4 (22:41):
You just got to do it.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
And it sounds tough and it sounds hard, but sitting
in the bed or feeling bad for yourself, like you're
not gonna thank yourself for that once you get to where.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
You're where you're going, or where you're at or where
you end up.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
And on the days that I didn't want to lift,
you know, ways I didn't want to go to p
I'm like, I have to. I have to do it
because literally, like what you're going through is preparing you
for where you're meant to be. And if you don't
take those moments like as honestly a privilege. Then you'll
(23:15):
never see the beauty in what you had to go through.
So for me not winning any races, not believing in myself,
having a whole bunch of doubt, not wanting to show up,
it didn't mean anything when I crossed that line and
I won the Olympic. So it's just about like doing
it when you don't want to, because your self is
gonna think yourself for showing up when you didn't want to.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
In the end, I am just looking at you and
I'm like, so, I'm I'm thirty seven, just so we're
all clear, and I am just looking at you and
I'm like, Wow, if I had this together at twenty five,
I don't even know where I would be right now.
With that said, the second thing I want to double
click on is you make it almost sound easy in
(23:59):
that you have put in so many reps already, You
have been tested already, and you learned through the adversity
that you faced that when you face a hurdle, no
pun intended, you then have the opportunity to come out
on the other side and take what you've learned to
become better, to continue to grow in a practical sense
when you reflect on maybe some of the things that
(24:22):
you did to help you get your mind right, what
comes to mind. Were you journaling, were you reading? Were
you outsourcing and talking to people that you care about
about trying to pull yourself out of these difficult moments?
Speaker 3 (24:33):
What was in your toolbox? Messiah?
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Yeah, I think the main things that I would say
was in my toolbox was one hundred percent journaling. Just
like journaling whatever is like, oh my mind on my heart,
like whatever thoughts, just put them on the paper, release it,
let it go. And then also I said earlier, just manifesting,
just putting out there what you want, what you see
(24:56):
yourself doing, even if it sounds outland is or it
sounds crazy. I'm happy, I'm great, I'm beautiful, I'm blessed.
Like just saying things that will make you feel better
is like so powerful. It's just so much power in
the tongue. And honestly, like don't I don't say anything
negative out my mouth Like that sounds crazy, but like
(25:17):
when it comes to myself, I don't ever affirm anything
about myself that's negative. Like if I don't feel like practicing,
like I'm not gonna put light onto that it's just
gonna be like, I'm not gonna say anything because it's
gonna make the practice ten times harder. So you know,
these are just like keys that of course I use
in my sport right now, but I also use them
in life in general, just how I show up. So
(25:39):
I think that people underestimate what comes out of their mouth,
and everything that I've spoken over my life has pretty
much come to fruition, and it literally happening over a
year of me just like practicing these things. So you know,
just start like speaking positive, just speaking, start speaking life
over yourself, over your situation, even if it's not where
you want to be, Like literally be the like it
(26:01):
sounds crazy, but be delusional in a positive light. And
I think that for me that has been the biggest
thing that I would say is in my two box,
it's just writing down my goals, seeing my goals, speaking, manifesting, journaling,
and just like being a positive person, like you can
always look in any situation and flip it to a positive.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
It's just all about perspective.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
And I think that that's what's been able to like
separate me from most It's just like the perspective that
I take on to life. Like, I mean, I'm not
about to start ranting, but I did not do what
I wanted to do at the World Championships. I ended
up coming fourth place, missing out on the medal after
being the American record holder, after running twelve to one
twice this year, Like everyone had me to win. But
I know that that race is gonna be the reason
(26:46):
why I do what I do in the future. It's
not a failure. It's just a lesson that's setting me
up for the biggest blessings.
Speaker 4 (26:53):
How did that feel coming forth?
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Yeah? Oof, it was what happened, talked me through that.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
For me, I mean, I think I've been through enough
to now know how to like navigate the hardships. So yeah,
I mean, honestly, like honestly, speaking to being super transparent,
I felt actually very humiliated. I felt very embarrassed because
everyone had me to win. I mean, I ran twelve
to one and I ran twelve four that day, and
(27:23):
I had an amazing season and I didn't show up
when it mattered the most.
Speaker 4 (27:28):
I mean, yeah, I felt very embarrassed.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
But you know, for me, I didn't really beat myself
up too much about it because I didn't have any
regrets about it because I put so much work in.
I do what I need to do, and unfortunately it
didn't go in the way that I, of course envision.
But it's not the end, you know, and it's just
a setup for what's to come.
Speaker 4 (27:51):
And that's always my mindset. That's why I'm for me personally.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
I'll never feel because it's always a lesson to turn
me into what the world will see. Yeah, And like
I said, I had to humbly swallow my pride. I
had to take a step back and understand who I am.
I had to redirect my focus. I knew I had
another race in Aflos, which was three weeks ago, and
(28:16):
I ended up directing my focus to that, taking some
time to myself, you know, regrouit, refocus, reset, and I
attacked that race and I ended my season in a
way that I was happy with. So yeah, I mean,
it's life, it's sports. And once again, like of course
I'm talking about like sports and marathon talk, but all
(28:39):
of these things that I'm saying, like I would just
take to life like it's just how you show up,
it's how you think of it. It's just the perspective
that you have and Yeah, you could be sad, give
yourself a couple of days, but life continues to move
like nothing will stop just because you do. So that's
the you know, that's the way that I look at it,
and it's just it is what it is.
Speaker 3 (29:01):
It is what it is.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
It's so impressive to hear firstly about this mindset, but
then the sentence I don't fail.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
I don't fail.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
That is not a sentence that is often a part
of many people's vocabulary. It's such a beautiful way to
frame what you go through in your life, whether you
get the outcome that you want or you don't.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
I also think.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
That it's so valuable the way that you talk through
the thought process of it's not that I don't have
a single negative thought, but then I get to make
the conscious choice of what happens with that negative thought.
I don't give in to that negative thought. And that's
again it's a huge challenge to get to that place. Now,
(29:54):
you said that journaling is a regular part of your routine.
Can you like give us a slice of what that
looks like for you? What does your journaling practice look like?
Speaker 1 (30:02):
So I have two journals, ones like a guided like
five minute journal, and then the other one's just like
literally a blank page, and the five minute one is
just like, you know, what are your daily affirmations, like
what are you grateful for?
Speaker 4 (30:16):
What things are you looking for?
Speaker 1 (30:18):
And yeah, like you know, just basic gratitude type of things.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
And then on the other journal.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
Like I said, it's really just about like what I
feel in that moment, at that time, at that day.
It could be like go out there and kill it,
lock in, zone out, be you like super straightforward, or
it could be just like whatever is literally on my
heart and mind.
Speaker 4 (30:39):
So yeah, that's the main things.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
How does it feel to finally be in your off season?
Speaker 4 (30:45):
Yeah, it feels good.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
I need to stay on social media because I'm seeing
like other people starting to train and I'm like, I'm
ready to start, Like I'm like, so I'm definitely trying
to like limit my social media intake and seeing what
other people are doing, just because I did just finish
my season three weeks ago and I was pretty much
running for almost a year straight, so I know I
(31:07):
need to get myself some time off just because the
season this year is just as long as it was
from last season. I'm gonna be running again to a September,
so I'm like, I could take some time to just breathe,
and I think for me that's the biggest thing that
will help towards my longevity in the sport. I think
that like we don't always give ourselves enough time, and
(31:28):
a lot of times throughout this year and this season,
coming back as the Olympic champion, I felt like I
had so much to prove to the world, to everybody else,
to the blogs, to the fans, and I wasn't really
giving myself enough time.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
And although I did have the mindset.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
That I have to show up, keep pushing, keep fighting,
like you shouldn't have to want to like pull yourself
every single day to do something that you love.
Speaker 4 (31:53):
So for me, I mean, yeah, I pulled through and
I ran a.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
Lot of great times, but a lot of times when
I stepped to the line, it was it was kind
of hard, just because I didn't give myself enough time
last year after the Olympics to mentally just detached and
mentally reset. So this year I'm definitely just trying to
like actually just be be and not think about track
and you know, just allow what to happen when it
(32:17):
comes back around, because I mean it's a part of
what I do, but it's not the only thing that
I do, so it's good to just take some time.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
I want to talk about recovery in just a second,
but before we do, you brought up social media. For
those of you that aren't following Massai on the socials,
she's got quite the big TikTok following, quite the big
Instagram following. I'm talking like over like one point four
million combined.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
That sounds like a lot of pressure, question Mark.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
I mean, I bring this back to what you were
saying about what happened at Worlds and you were like,
I was embarrassed. Is a part of that the size
of your following and how have you navigated that rise
of people keeping up with you?
Speaker 3 (33:15):
How does that make you feel?
Speaker 1 (33:16):
I think the people keeping up with me, I think
it's kind of natural, just because I've always like just
it's been authentic for me to just post my life,
post what I'm doing, just be like just being me honestly,
So it hasn't really felt like any pressure. I feel
like the pressure has kind of come now from me
being the Olympic champion. So you know, the people within
the track world, the fans, like people who didn't know
(33:38):
about me before the Olympics that now know about me
expect something amazing every single time I compete. So I mean,
once again, it's all about the mindset, and I just
look at it as a privilege, and there's privilege for
you to have pressure. You know, like people expect something
of me. It's something that people want to see. People
know that I'm capable of these great things. So you know,
(34:00):
I just shipped my mindset in that sense. But I
don't think the embarrassment came from social media. I think
this my social media fans were actually like no one
really said anything like that was like outland ish, Like
I didn't see any crazy comments. I think the embarrassing
morisel came from myself and how I viewed myself and
what I expected of myself.
Speaker 4 (34:22):
And the people in my circle.
Speaker 1 (34:23):
You know, like I had big goals, I had big plans,
and you know, it just didn't happen the way that
me and my team expected. But you know, once again,
it is what it is. And you know, people was asking.
Speaker 4 (34:34):
Like are you okay? Are you fine?
Speaker 1 (34:36):
I'm like, yeah, I'm still living, I'm still here. I'm
so healthy. I'm blessed. You know, I've taken more losses
than I've ever won, So I'm like, I've been here before,
and y'all know what happens when I've been down there
and what I do and to get to where I'm going,
So you know, it's all right.
Speaker 4 (34:50):
It's just part of the story.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
Part of the story, recovery, as I said that I
wanted to come back to. It also involves a little
bit of Celi And I know that you said that
you're not always good at celebrating yourself when we're aiming
for our next big goal. What is something that you're
looking forward to doing in this off season part of
(35:14):
that recovery and maybe a little bit part of that celebration.
Speaker 1 (35:17):
Laying on the beach, phone on, do not disturb in
literally just detaching. So I think that that's the main
thing I'm looking forward to.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
I'm not blowing up besides Spot, but she's going on
vacation next weekend, and I think it's getting a little
cold here, so this will be I'm inspired.
Speaker 4 (35:36):
Yeah, it's time to go.
Speaker 3 (35:37):
It's time to go.
Speaker 4 (35:39):
Takes time to get out of New York.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
I appreciate the sentiments that you are sharing on how
you only vocalize to yourself these positive thoughts. But what
other advice do you have for these women as they
toe the line on Sunday going to be out there
for quite some time. To stay positive, remembering that every
single second is an opportunity to start over.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
Say, I'll give you, guys, everything that's in my toolbox,
Like you put the work in, You've done everything that
you've needed to do to be here now. So whatever
is meant to happen is gonna happen. And I think
that you just have to be okay and accept that
in your mind and detach all the expectations of what
anyone believes that you should do or even you're putting
(36:21):
on yourself. So just be just just be happy, just
be blessed that you're able to run. You know, I
think we take little things like that for granted, like
just being able to run, walk, get up, like to
do things on our own. You know, we just are
so like on the go, we don't even sometimes take
time to be thankful for the tiny things that allow
us to get from point A to point B. Running
(36:43):
a marathon is insane in general, Like I don't think
I could ever do it, So just be you whatever
is meant to happen. Just be happy for yourself, be
happy that you're here, happy that you're alive, and y'all
are gonna kill it.
Speaker 4 (36:58):
I wish I could be out there.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
Remember that you are part of a very small, elite
group of humans that choose to torture yourself this way.
So again, to Massiz's point, this is an opportunity, It's
a blessing and the chance to show up at all
at that starting line.
Speaker 3 (37:15):
It's such a.
Speaker 4 (37:16):
Gift accomplishment within it. So so true.
Speaker 2 (37:19):
Now we did touch on your great amount of social
media followers. Those people they come to your page, they
see this stunning woman who Olympic champion, American record holder.
But when you look in the mirror, Massia, what is
it that you see looking back at you?
Speaker 4 (37:37):
Oh that's a key question. Well thanks girl.
Speaker 1 (37:41):
I think for me personally, when I look at myself
in the mirror, I just see someone with still so
much potential, someone that's still so eager to just get better,
to learn new things, not even just on the track.
Just I'm young, I'm twenty five. I'm like, I'm trying
to get a little girl.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
I'm sorry, I feel like I really blew up your
spot of the here.
Speaker 4 (38:04):
But yeah, no, you're all good.
Speaker 1 (38:07):
But I'm like, you know, I'm still like so young
in the adult life, and it's still just so much
to learn. So you know, any person, any place, any
experience that I have, I just take so much from everybody.
It doesn't matter who I'm talking to, Like, I learned
from everybody, and I think for me, I'm just still
(38:29):
so eager and just so blessed and just so adamant
to continue to learn who I am, continue to you know,
do my thing as a professional, but just to continue
to grow as being an inspiration to so many and
to continue giving back and just using my voice as
a way to just inspire just because I mean, I've
come from literally not being an Olympic gold medalist, like
(38:52):
to this day it sounds insane to me, but I've
been able to create something for myself and of.
Speaker 4 (38:58):
Course with the help of God.
Speaker 1 (38:59):
But just God has given me the strength to use
my voice to help people and to show people the
way they like, you could create the life that you want.
It doesn't matter, the age, doesn't matter, the time, Like
you could start today by just putting yourself first and
speaking positive things over yourself, positive things over your life,
and you could create something that you wouldn't be able
to recognize when you look in the mirror. So sometimes
(39:21):
it took a minute for me to realize, like, wait,
I am who I am? I had impostually synd on
for a minute, but now you know it's definitely it's
set in, And I mean like I know who I
am now, but yeah, for sure, like just continueing to
explore me.
Speaker 3 (39:37):
Raise your hand if you want to run through a
brick wall. I'm so inspired by you. And I also think.
Speaker 2 (39:43):
That when we speak about this positive mindset again, we
can't run this point home enough. You get to decide
what it is that you do with your thoughts, whether
it is on Sunday or bigger than Sunday. You get
that opportunity each and every time you said you've checked
(40:03):
off some things that you've wanted to do. What are
you looking forward to right now? MASSI what else do
you want to check off?
Speaker 1 (40:10):
I think in the track road of course everyone they
probably know, but for you guys listening now, of course,
my goal is to break the world record. My best
is twelve seventeen. The world record is twelve twelve, so
I'm like five five, five hundreds, blink of and I
(40:31):
off of the world record. So you know, that's the
next big goal. And just to continue to dominate, continue
to win more medals and win the Olympics in LA
twenty eight.
Speaker 3 (40:40):
No big deal.
Speaker 2 (40:45):
Right now, MASSI, you have an opportunity to offer yourself
a piece of advice. I'm going to go back to
that difficult streak of time you had before showing up
to usas taking home that w getting the meat record
and then ultimately landing your as an Olympic champion. Knowing
what you know now, what advice would you give to
yourself during that hurdle moment?
Speaker 1 (41:08):
Just to continue to believe in yourself, I tell myself,
all you have is all you need. I think we're
all blessed with something specific within us, and it's just
about you utilizing the gift that each and every one
of us have within us and not looking at, you know,
the next person and comparing what they have versus what
(41:28):
you don't have. And yeah, just understanding that everything that
you have within you is everything that you need to
be successful. So if I could go back and tell
myself that probably would have ran a little faster, but
it doesn't matter now, right.
Speaker 2 (41:42):
It doesn't matter now now for those of the ladies
and the audience that aren't following along with you, just yet,
give us your details. Where do we find you on
the socials?
Speaker 4 (41:51):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (41:52):
Well, honestly on every platform it's the same. Not many
people have my name, so it's m Asai.
Speaker 4 (42:00):
And then if she come up after that, Massigh Russell.
Speaker 3 (42:05):
You know how I do it.
Speaker 2 (42:06):
On the show I'm Over at Emily a Body and
at Hurdle Podcast we say another hurdle conquered, Thank.
Speaker 3 (42:11):
You so much. Let's give it up for a MASSI
You could create the life that you want. It doesn't matter,
the age, doesn't matter the time. Like you could start
today by just putting yourself first and speaking positive things
over your so positive things over your life.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Hey hey, Emily body here. You are listening to season
twenty of Hurdle. Today's the season premiere episode, and I
could not be heavier to have you joining me, not
only because today I'm bringing you my conversation with Massai Russell.
She's the American record holder and Olympic champion in the
one hundred meter hurdles. We had this conversation alive last
(00:48):
week here in New York. But today's a really special day,
and that is because today Hurdle officially joins the iHeart
Women's Sports Network.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Insert applause here.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I oh my goodness.
It's been something that's been in the works for quite
some time. I feel so many ways about it. I've
been podcasting for almost eight years now. And if you
were to tell me eight years ago when I started
doing this, that I would be joining such a stellar
group of shows and be supported by such a phenomenal network, yeah,
(01:23):
I don't know if I would have believed you.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
But here we are.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
And I am elated. Hurdle moving forward. Nothing new that
you have to do as a listener unless you are
now checking us out for the first time, in which
welcome you are now officially a hurdler. Make sure you
slam that subscribe button. What can you expect week after
week on Hurdle. I'm bringing you the true stories in
the mindset secrets of the most inspiring women in sport
(01:48):
and wellness. My goal here is to peel back the
curtain on the grit, glory and vulnerable journeys.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Of the best to ever do it.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
You'll still have five minute Friday, You'll still have new
episodes every Tuesday, and you already know I am sticking
to my mission to empower you to live a healthier, happier,
more motivated life. Last little bit of housekeeping. If you're
new here again, my name's Emily. I'm a wellness coach,
a veteran journalist living here in Brooklyn, New York, with
(02:17):
almost two decades of experience telling stories within the woman's
sports space. I'm the former fitness editor at Self Magazine.
I'm also a certified trainer, run coach, and a certified
professional coach, which you can liken to a life coach.
And I use all of this knowledge and education to
make sure that I am having safe and productive conversations
(02:40):
here on the show. Let's talk about mass I, like
I said, a stellar athlete who has had quite a year,
most recently finishing her season with a win at Athlos
in New York City. This conversation filmed live in front
of an audience at Nike's New York headquarters, a motivational pregame,
if you will, for so many of the individuals in
(03:02):
the room that were preparing to run the New York
City Marathon. And wow, wow, wow, what a time we had.
In today's conversation, Beside talks.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
To us about her struggles.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
She shares what it was like for her to make
her first US Olympic team and not only compete in Paris,
but emerge victorious as the Olympic Champion, bringing home the gold.
So many of the women that were in attendance told
me afterward as they came up and said hi, that
they took down notes as we were talking. My favorite
(03:34):
part about this conversation Massi's point of view on failure
and that well, she never fails I want to say
thank you to all of you for sticking with me
over the last eight years. It's an emotional day for me.
It's a special time and I would love your support
to get everybody else amped about this new chapter. So
make sure you're following along with Hurdle over on social
(03:55):
It's at Hurdle Podcast. Make sure you're keeping up with
I hurt Women's Sports over at I Heart Women's Sports
on Instagram, and of course I'm over at Emily a Body.
Share today's episode with a friend, and make sure you're
subscribed to our weekly Hurdle Substack. It's our newsletter that
comes out every single Friday. Bring you so much of
the same inspiration and motivation you love from the show,
(04:18):
plus my gear picks what I'm reading, listening to watching
directly in your inbox.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
With that, let's get to it. Let's get to hurdling MESSI. Hi,
welcome to New York.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
Thank you A little different than Kentucky, it is it
is your event, a little bit different than the marathon,
very much so for some context here MASSI won the
Olympics in twelve point three three seconds.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Thank you guys.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
We're gonna do a little game later to see what
some of you can do in twelve point three three seconds.
I know I certainly can't run one hundred meters in
tire three three seconds, but just just.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Wait on that.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Anyway, I like to kick off our conversation on the
show by doing a level set.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
How are you doing? Really?
Speaker 4 (05:26):
I'm actually doing great.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Yeah, you know.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
I'm taking some time from track right now. I'm in
the off season. Had a really long year, did indoor outdoor.
I just wrapped up my season October tenth, actually in
New York, three weeks ago, one net. So I'm just
taking some time for myself and just making sure that
I'm giving myself that break mentally so that I can
(05:50):
continue to show up and you guys can continue to
watch me win more medals at the Olympics.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Never gets old saying something like that, And I mean
saw toting of the win at Athlos. Let's hear it
from Asi. That event is such a special thing to
be a part of. I mean, this room so special
because we're all in community with women, but that the
exact same thing. How did it feel for you to
not only be a part of that this year but
(06:17):
then just take home that w.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Yeah, last year, I didn't get the W and it
was the first one, so I was like, I want
to win the first one and that didn't happen. But
I think this time around definitely meant more. Serena Williams
literally crowned us, So I'm like, who wouldn't want to
be crowned by Serena? Like, but yeah, I mean it's
super on brand for literally what we're doing here, just
women in community and just women pushing each other, women
(06:40):
supporting each other. And like I said, I won this
time around, it meant a little more because Serena was there,
so another great women in sports was able to crown
me who's so decorated herself.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
It was just like amazing.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Bring me back to like twelve year old MESSI because
you just said and Serena Williams crowned me.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Can you even imagine at.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Twelve years old looking at your future self and being like, hey,
one day, you know what I.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Mean, I'm honestly trying to think of who I was
when I was twelve. That was before high school, so
I didn't really know what was going on. But if
you would have told little Massaiah that she was honestly
within a foot from Serena, she probably would have been
(07:32):
running around the house and going crazy. So it's really
insane to see what my life has turned into. The
rooms that I've been able to enter, the people I've
been able to talk to, it's just a blessing. And honestly,
when you put your mind in something and when you
believe in the unknown, honestly, great things happen.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Great things happen, and for you, a lot of unknown
except you knew that you wanted to run. There's six
of you in your face, and ly six total siblings,
and you yourself grew up watching your brother's run track,
Is that right?
Speaker 3 (08:05):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (08:05):
Yeah, So it was too older than me, one younger
than me.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
I was the only girl at the time, and I
was like, all right, I'm just trying to.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
Keep up with my brothers.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
And I think that just like pushed me to be
like competitive, and I think that that's what has still
to this day instilled that competitiveness in me to just
like want for more, you know, just always trying to
prove myself.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
Always trying to prove yourself to yourself.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
And I think that's actually a really great point for
us to kick off here on is that essential self
belief that is required for you to do what you
do from a young age. Where did you get that from?
Was that taught to you by your parents? Did that
come I know you're really inspired by your mother. From
your mother or where did that sense of self belief
(08:52):
really begin for you?
Speaker 1 (08:53):
I think it was a couple of different things that
kind of went into that. I think, like I said, starting,
I think my brother's just the way that we grew
up kind of help with that competitiveness. And then once again,
like you just mentioned my mom she's a doctor, just
seeing her get up every day and just work towards
something every day.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
I wasn't like that.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
With school, but I mean, like I got a grit,
Let me just throw that out there. But the drive
that I have on the track is like the way
that I see my mom drive towards like being on
call and showing up for patience and going.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
To the hospital.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
So that's I would say that that's the biggest thing
that has pretty much made me the person that I am,
which those two definitely, and my dad just like supported
me and he was like my coach for a small
period of time. But yeah, my brother's just trying to
keep up with the boys, you know, just trying to
be competitive in that sense and trying to keep up,
and then just seeing the grid that my mom had
(09:48):
to just continue to want for more and to push herself.
And you know, I just seen that as a young girl,
and I just took that on the track every single day.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Take it on the track every day.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Now, you followed that self belief and you brought that
grit with you to the University of Kentucky. I know
that wasn't original area where you thought that you were
gonna go to college.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Let's talk a little bit about that.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
How did it feel for you to trust your gut
and take that leap to go to Kentucky.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
Yeah, it just felt right. I initially was supposed to
be going to the University of Tennessee, but some coaching
changes kind of happened, and from there, I just was like,
all right, I'm gonna follow the coach that recruited me,
so I'm gonna go over to Kentucky. And it, like
I said, it just felt right. I wasn't too excited
to go to Tennessee. I was just going there for
(10:38):
the coach. So when the coach was like all right,
I'm going to Kentucky. Are you gonna come with me?
I still have everything in place. I'm like, yeah, let's
do it. And it ended up being the best school
out of all the schools that I visited. To this day,
I'm still there. I still live here nowhere like New York,
and it's super different from even where I'm from. I'm
from Maryland, the DMV area, so I'm very familiar with
(11:00):
New York, just coming here a lot as a young athlete,
so very different than the East Coast. But yeah, it
just made sense. Like I said, I'm still there, still
with the same coach. I'm like, if it's not broke,
there's nothing to fix. So for me, it's just worked out.
And I bought a house last year. So yeah, I mean,
(11:22):
oh yeah, we.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Women applauding women for their success.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
Yeah, thanks, thanks. I know it's like a big deal.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
But like my problem sometimes is like I'm just like sewing,
Like I'm always trying to get to the next thing,
and I don't always take a step to realize where
I'm at. But like anytime I tell someone that, they're like,
that's insane. You bought a house at twenty four and
I'm like, yeah, I did so it's a blessing. It's
definitely a blessing.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
But yeah, raise your hand.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
If you two are always in a rush to get
to the next thag, I'm always like, okay, I'm not
even gonna SKay alone.
Speaker 3 (11:55):
Yeah, you're not alone, not alone at all.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
And we will say this for those of you, all
of you running on Sunday, we want to make sure
that you take the time to celebrate this accomplishment. It's
such a special moment, regardless of the outcome. Making it
to that starting line at all is a massive, massive
thing to celebrate. Now, you said I bought a house
(12:18):
at twenty four. You're twenty five. Now.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
You also mentioned being a young athlete.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
You are pretty early on in this How does it
feel for you to have found so much success at
such a young age.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
It feels amazing, of course, And of course there's still
more things that I want to accomplish, and I think
for me, this guy's limitless. So I do view myself
as a very successful person. But until I check off
some more boxes, I think I'll still have more to
work towards. Of course, and in the professional space, it
(12:57):
doesn't make you easy so yeah, blessed, I'm just so
like relentless.
Speaker 2 (13:04):
Checking off some more boxes. Let's talk about some of
the boxes you've already checked. American record holder. Bring us
to that race, and let's start at the beginning. And
by the beginning, I mean, what does Messi Russell think
about in the starting box?
Speaker 1 (13:21):
I think the build up before the blocks is the
most important thing because honestly, once for me want I'm
on the track and want someone on the line, there's
nothing more that's gonna change or the outcome isn't gonna change.
So that's even something that you guys can take to
the marathon, like you put all the work in, You've
done everything you could do, like literally just show up
and be in whatever that outcome is gonna be. That's
(13:43):
just what it is, and you have to be okay
with it.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
You have to accept it.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
And that's just you know, for me, that's always been
my mindset. So once I step foot on the line,
it's it's just like the time is now, like allow
whatever's meant to happen to happen. You can't change the
outcome and literally just be That's what I tell myself.
And once the gun goes off, nothing else matters. I'm
(14:07):
kind of blacked out. I know, for me, it's twelve seconds.
For y'all's twenty six miles. But I heard that runners
highs is such a thing, So get into that mindset,
in that mode, and y'all gonna do great.
Speaker 3 (14:22):
You're gonna do great.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
She's like, I've never had the opportunity to personally experience
runners high.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
Yeah, I heard of it.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
I heard of it.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
But unlike some other short distance runners, I will say
that Massai used to run cross country.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
So she she's run a mile.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
You ask some other sprinters, they've never run a consecutive mile.
Speaker 3 (14:40):
Yeah, She's like, yeah, I know, I'm gonna tell.
Speaker 4 (14:42):
Yeah, I haven't went over two miles, but I used
to do cross country.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Well, we love to hear it, and I really appreciate this.
You're gonna show up, and this is how it is now. Mentality.
Now that is something that isn't exactly easy to arrive at,
A mentality that's for some.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Hard to adopt.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
Were you always this way when it came to competition,
or is this a skill that you've refined over time
by putting in the reps and showing up time and
time again.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Yeah, I feel like I always had like a very
confident mindset, but I didn't have it directed to what
I wanted out of my life.
Speaker 4 (15:23):
For so long, I always came up short. I never won.
Speaker 1 (15:26):
Me honestly, when in the Olympics was a shock to
ninety nine percent of the people that know track and
that watch track. But to the people that were in
my circle, it wasn't a surprise. And I say that
to say, it doesn't really matter what you have coming in.
It's just like the mindset that you take when you arrive.
And I was always second place. I was always national
(15:49):
runner up. I was always third or second, even like
from a kid, I could never pull off the wind.
And I think once I shifted my mindset to it
actually being directed towards something I kind of focused on.
Like I'm trying to think of how to say this
(16:10):
and not sound like cocky, but it's like you really
just have to tell yourself, like who you are or
what you want or what you want to become. And
you know, people say it's cocky, some people say it's confidence,
but you know, when you're a sprinter like myself or
even just like a competitor, you have to think of
yourself in a somewhat of a higher way to get
(16:33):
to what you want. And I'm a professional athlete, so
you know, it's a little different. I feel like my
mindset may be a little different than you guys, but
you guys can still take on this mindset. And like
I said, for me, it was a lot of self talk,
It was a lot of writing down my goals. It
was a lot of honestly delusion. And you know, I
feel like we put a lot of negative thoughts into
(16:54):
not being or not doing. But it's like, just as
delusional as it is to not believe, you could be
as delusional as it can happen, and you believe that
it will happen. So it's just about like yeah.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
She's like, okay, Yeah, it's literally just like.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Yeah, it's a mindset thing.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
And you know, for me, the mind is literally the
controller of everything that you do. So you know, if
I say I want to break the world records, so
one can say that's impossible, but I could say it's possible,
and then it's only impossible until it happens. So just
direct the delusion in a way that's beneficial to y'all.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
I love everything about this. I love going after for
what it is that you want. I love speaking your
goals and do existence. I truly believe that you don't
get to get what you want until you cann't put
words to what that is.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
So it's such a special lesson.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
I also appreciate what you said about having a really
hard year going into the Olympics.
Speaker 3 (17:51):
Let's talk a little bit about that.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
Yeah, it was my first year professional. As most people know,
this is last year, first year I'm out of college.
She was my first time being on the professional circuit,
competing against other professionals, especially the ones that you've looked
up to and who have Olympic champion medals, who have
world medals, who've broken the world record, you know. So
(18:12):
it definitely is a very humbling place coming out of
college being the collegiate record holder, fastest college punching meter
hurdler of all time, and then you're coming into the
professional realm and it's like no one cares about anything
you just did in college. You got to do it
again and do it better. So for me, yeah, I
had a pretty tough year. I wasn't sponsored initially before
(18:34):
I signed with Nike, so I was supporting myself. I
was competing on the road by myself, with no sponsor,
and you know, it's just a lot that mentally buried
on me. And you know, I knew that the Olympics
was around the corner, but I just kind of like,
let the Olympics come when it was meant to come,
you know. Of course, like everyone else in the world's
(18:54):
like Paris, Paris, Paris, Paris, I'm like, I'm just trying
to show up right now, you know. So, so that
was the main thing for me that was on my mind,
was just to show up for myself every single day,
just keep one foot in front of the other and
just continue to show up.
Speaker 4 (19:09):
And yeah, like I didn't win.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
A single race until the US Championships, and I think
the main thing that pretty much helped me to pull
off that win. It was my first time ever winning
anything at a national level, was my first time went
in a national title, and I ended up breaking the
Olympic trials record. I just shifted my mindset, like I
knew mentally, like I just wasn't aligned with my body
(19:36):
and I wasn't locked in, and I knew I put
the reps in. I knew I put the work in
just like you guys like put you put the work
in everything that you've done up until now, Like you
put the work in, like literally just give yourself a
chance and you surprise yourself. So I just told myself
when I got out there on the line, like whatever's
gonna happen is gonna happen.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
And I think once I kind of let.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Let my ego go and let what I thought I
should be or what the expectations of what people put
onto me.
Speaker 4 (20:04):
Once I let all.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
That go out the door, I just like felt free
and I ran through those ten hurdles and it was
the best race of my life at that time. Won
the Olympic Trials, I was like, wow, I'm literally considered
an Olympian now, like and I was a dream for
so long, and I actually lost faith at a point
in my life where I didn't believe that I could
(20:26):
even be an Olympian. So to even now be sitting
here as an Olympic champion, Like, it's just crazy what
you could do when you put your mind to something.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
So yeah, I mean that's really the story.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
That's the story.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
Two things I want to double click on the first
thing is how do you do it?
Speaker 3 (21:04):
And by it, I mean, how.
Speaker 2 (21:06):
Do you pick yourself up on the days that you
don't feel so shiny and so capable, Because that is
something that I'm sure all of us can really relate
to what worked for you.
Speaker 4 (21:18):
I think the main thing that worked for me.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
I'm just a very positive person, So regardless of whatever
situation I'm going through, I just try to stay as
positive as possible.
Speaker 4 (21:27):
And I've always said like, I've had.
Speaker 1 (21:29):
A pretty good life for the most part, So last
year was like pretty much like in terms of track
and field, that was the most adversity that I've ever felt,
not winning races, not doing good, not being the person
that everyone expected for me to be. I'm coming out
of from college being the collegiate record holder to now
running times that I haven't seen since I was like
(21:51):
a freshman or sophomore in college. So for me, I
at that moment, I feel like when you put things
out there and when you say things, it's like you're
gonna get said on those things. So I'm like, all right,
now I'm in the situation where you know, I was positive.
Speaker 4 (22:06):
It's easy to be positive.
Speaker 1 (22:07):
When everything's going in your favor, but now it's time
to be positive and literally practice what you preach when
you're now in a situation where it's not looking the
way that you want it to be. So for me personally,
my biggest advice is to literally just continue to show
up for yourself however that looks, even if it's not
in the way.
Speaker 4 (22:25):
That you want it to be.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Just continuing to just show up is the best thing
that you can do. I think, like it just builds
so much mental fortitude and it just it proves to you,
to you and yourself that like, regardless of how you feel,
you can, you just got to get up.
Speaker 4 (22:41):
You just got to do it.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
And it sounds tough and it sounds hard, but sitting
in the bed or feeling bad for yourself, like you're
not gonna thank yourself for that once you get to where.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
You're where you're going, or where you're at or where
you end up.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
And on the days that I didn't want to lift,
you know, ways I didn't want to go to p
I'm like, I have to. I have to do it
because literally, like what you're going through is preparing you
for where you're meant to be. And if you don't
take those moments like as honestly a privilege. Then you'll
(23:15):
never see the beauty in what you had to go through.
So for me not winning any races, not believing in myself,
having a whole bunch of doubt, not wanting to show up,
it didn't mean anything when I crossed that line and
I won the Olympic. So it's just about like doing
it when you don't want to, because your self is
gonna think yourself for showing up when you didn't want to.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
In the end, I am just looking at you and
I'm like, so, I'm I'm thirty seven, just so we're
all clear, and I am just looking at you and
I'm like, Wow, if I had this together at twenty five,
I don't even know where I would be right now.
With that said, the second thing I want to double
click on is you make it almost sound easy in
(23:59):
that you have put in so many reps already, You
have been tested already, and you learned through the adversity
that you faced that when you face a hurdle, no
pun intended, you then have the opportunity to come out
on the other side and take what you've learned to
become better, to continue to grow in a practical sense
when you reflect on maybe some of the things that
(24:22):
you did to help you get your mind right, what
comes to mind. Were you journaling, were you reading? Were
you outsourcing and talking to people that you care about
about trying to pull yourself out of these difficult moments?
Speaker 3 (24:33):
What was in your toolbox? Messiah?
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Yeah, I think the main things that I would say
was in my toolbox was one hundred percent journaling. Just
like journaling whatever is like, oh my mind on my heart,
like whatever thoughts, just put them on the paper, release it,
let it go. And then also I said earlier, just manifesting,
just putting out there what you want, what you see
(24:56):
yourself doing, even if it sounds outland is or it
sounds crazy. I'm happy, I'm great, I'm beautiful, I'm blessed.
Like just saying things that will make you feel better
is like so powerful. It's just so much power in
the tongue. And honestly, like don't I don't say anything
negative out my mouth Like that sounds crazy, but like
(25:17):
when it comes to myself, I don't ever affirm anything
about myself that's negative. Like if I don't feel like practicing,
like I'm not gonna put light onto that it's just
gonna be like, I'm not gonna say anything because it's
gonna make the practice ten times harder. So you know,
these are just like keys that of course I use
in my sport right now, but I also use them
in life in general, just how I show up. So
(25:39):
I think that people underestimate what comes out of their mouth,
and everything that I've spoken over my life has pretty
much come to fruition, and it literally happening over a
year of me just like practicing these things. So you know,
just start like speaking positive, just speaking, start speaking life
over yourself, over your situation, even if it's not where
you want to be, Like literally be the like it
(26:01):
sounds crazy, but be delusional in a positive light. And
I think that for me that has been the biggest
thing that I would say is in my two box,
it's just writing down my goals, seeing my goals, speaking, manifesting, journaling,
and just like being a positive person, like you can
always look in any situation and flip it to a positive.
Speaker 4 (26:21):
It's just all about perspective.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
And I think that that's what's been able to like
separate me from most It's just like the perspective that
I take on to life. Like, I mean, I'm not
about to start ranting, but I did not do what
I wanted to do at the World Championships. I ended
up coming fourth place, missing out on the medal after
being the American record holder, after running twelve to one
twice this year, Like everyone had me to win. But
I know that that race is gonna be the reason
(26:46):
why I do what I do in the future. It's
not a failure. It's just a lesson that's setting me
up for the biggest blessings.
Speaker 4 (26:53):
How did that feel coming forth?
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Yeah? Oof, it was what happened, talked me through that.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
For me, I mean, I think I've been through enough
to now know how to like navigate the hardships. So yeah,
I mean, honestly, like honestly, speaking to being super transparent,
I felt actually very humiliated. I felt very embarrassed because
everyone had me to win. I mean, I ran twelve
to one and I ran twelve four that day, and
(27:23):
I had an amazing season and I didn't show up
when it mattered the most.
Speaker 4 (27:28):
I mean, yeah, I felt very embarrassed.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
But you know, for me, I didn't really beat myself
up too much about it because I didn't have any
regrets about it because I put so much work in.
I do what I need to do, and unfortunately it
didn't go in the way that I, of course envision.
But it's not the end, you know, and it's just
a setup for what's to come.
Speaker 4 (27:51):
And that's always my mindset. That's why I'm for me personally.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
I'll never feel because it's always a lesson to turn
me into what the world will see. Yeah, And like
I said, I had to humbly swallow my pride. I
had to take a step back and understand who I am.
I had to redirect my focus. I knew I had
another race in Aflos, which was three weeks ago, and
(28:16):
I ended up directing my focus to that, taking some
time to myself, you know, regrouit, refocus, reset, and I
attacked that race and I ended my season in a
way that I was happy with. So yeah, I mean,
it's life, it's sports. And once again, like of course
I'm talking about like sports and marathon talk, but all
(28:39):
of these things that I'm saying, like I would just
take to life like it's just how you show up,
it's how you think of it. It's just the perspective
that you have and Yeah, you could be sad, give
yourself a couple of days, but life continues to move
like nothing will stop just because you do. So that's
the you know, that's the way that I look at it,
and it's just it is what it is.
Speaker 3 (29:01):
It is what it is.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
It's so impressive to hear firstly about this mindset, but
then the sentence I don't fail.
Speaker 3 (29:11):
I don't fail.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
That is not a sentence that is often a part
of many people's vocabulary. It's such a beautiful way to
frame what you go through in your life, whether you
get the outcome that you want or you don't.
Speaker 3 (29:31):
I also think.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
That it's so valuable the way that you talk through
the thought process of it's not that I don't have
a single negative thought, but then I get to make
the conscious choice of what happens with that negative thought.
I don't give in to that negative thought. And that's
again it's a huge challenge to get to that place. Now,
(29:54):
you said that journaling is a regular part of your routine.
Can you like give us a slice of what that
looks like for you? What does your journaling practice look like?
Speaker 1 (30:02):
So I have two journals, ones like a guided like
five minute journal, and then the other one's just like
literally a blank page, and the five minute one is
just like, you know, what are your daily affirmations, like
what are you grateful for?
Speaker 4 (30:16):
What things are you looking for?
Speaker 1 (30:18):
And yeah, like you know, just basic gratitude type of things.
Speaker 4 (30:23):
And then on the other journal.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
Like I said, it's really just about like what I
feel in that moment, at that time, at that day.
It could be like go out there and kill it,
lock in, zone out, be you like super straightforward, or
it could be just like whatever is literally on my
heart and mind.
Speaker 4 (30:39):
So yeah, that's the main things.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
How does it feel to finally be in your off season?
Speaker 4 (30:45):
Yeah, it feels good.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
I need to stay on social media because I'm seeing
like other people starting to train and I'm like, I'm
ready to start, Like I'm like, so I'm definitely trying
to like limit my social media intake and seeing what
other people are doing, just because I did just finish
my season three weeks ago and I was pretty much
running for almost a year straight, so I know I
(31:07):
need to get myself some time off just because the
season this year is just as long as it was
from last season. I'm gonna be running again to a September,
so I'm like, I could take some time to just breathe,
and I think for me that's the biggest thing that
will help towards my longevity in the sport. I think
that like we don't always give ourselves enough time, and
(31:28):
a lot of times throughout this year and this season,
coming back as the Olympic champion, I felt like I
had so much to prove to the world, to everybody else,
to the blogs, to the fans, and I wasn't really
giving myself enough time.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
And although I did have the mindset.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
That I have to show up, keep pushing, keep fighting,
like you shouldn't have to want to like pull yourself
every single day to do something that you love.
Speaker 4 (31:53):
So for me, I mean, yeah, I pulled through and
I ran a.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
Lot of great times, but a lot of times when
I stepped to the line, it was it was kind
of hard, just because I didn't give myself enough time
last year after the Olympics to mentally just detached and
mentally reset. So this year I'm definitely just trying to
like actually just be be and not think about track
and you know, just allow what to happen when it
(32:17):
comes back around, because I mean it's a part of
what I do, but it's not the only thing that
I do, so it's good to just take some time.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
I want to talk about recovery in just a second,
but before we do, you brought up social media. For
those of you that aren't following Massai on the socials,
she's got quite the big TikTok following, quite the big
Instagram following. I'm talking like over like one point four
million combined.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
That sounds like a lot of pressure, question Mark.
Speaker 2 (33:02):
I mean, I bring this back to what you were
saying about what happened at Worlds and you were like,
I was embarrassed. Is a part of that the size
of your following and how have you navigated that rise
of people keeping up with you?
Speaker 3 (33:15):
How does that make you feel?
Speaker 1 (33:16):
I think the people keeping up with me, I think
it's kind of natural, just because I've always like just
it's been authentic for me to just post my life,
post what I'm doing, just be like just being me honestly,
So it hasn't really felt like any pressure. I feel
like the pressure has kind of come now from me
being the Olympic champion. So you know, the people within
the track world, the fans, like people who didn't know
(33:38):
about me before the Olympics that now know about me
expect something amazing every single time I compete. So I mean,
once again, it's all about the mindset, and I just
look at it as a privilege, and there's privilege for
you to have pressure. You know, like people expect something
of me. It's something that people want to see. People
know that I'm capable of these great things. So you know,
(34:00):
I just shipped my mindset in that sense. But I
don't think the embarrassment came from social media. I think
this my social media fans were actually like no one
really said anything like that was like outland ish, Like
I didn't see any crazy comments. I think the embarrassing
morisel came from myself and how I viewed myself and
what I expected of myself.
Speaker 4 (34:22):
And the people in my circle.
Speaker 1 (34:23):
You know, like I had big goals, I had big plans,
and you know, it just didn't happen the way that
me and my team expected. But you know, once again,
it is what it is. And you know, people was asking.
Speaker 4 (34:34):
Like are you okay? Are you fine?
Speaker 1 (34:36):
I'm like, yeah, I'm still living, I'm still here. I'm
so healthy. I'm blessed. You know, I've taken more losses
than I've ever won, So I'm like, I've been here before,
and y'all know what happens when I've been down there
and what I do and to get to where I'm going,
So you know, it's all right.
Speaker 4 (34:50):
It's just part of the story.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
Part of the story, recovery, as I said that I
wanted to come back to. It also involves a little
bit of Celi And I know that you said that
you're not always good at celebrating yourself when we're aiming
for our next big goal. What is something that you're
looking forward to doing in this off season part of
(35:14):
that recovery and maybe a little bit part of that celebration.
Speaker 1 (35:17):
Laying on the beach, phone on, do not disturb in
literally just detaching. So I think that that's the main
thing I'm looking forward to.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
I'm not blowing up besides Spot, but she's going on
vacation next weekend, and I think it's getting a little
cold here, so this will be I'm inspired.
Speaker 4 (35:36):
Yeah, it's time to go.
Speaker 3 (35:37):
It's time to go.
Speaker 4 (35:39):
Takes time to get out of New York.
Speaker 2 (35:41):
I appreciate the sentiments that you are sharing on how
you only vocalize to yourself these positive thoughts. But what
other advice do you have for these women as they
toe the line on Sunday going to be out there
for quite some time. To stay positive, remembering that every
single second is an opportunity to start over.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
Say, I'll give you, guys, everything that's in my toolbox,
Like you put the work in, You've done everything that
you've needed to do to be here now. So whatever
is meant to happen is gonna happen. And I think
that you just have to be okay and accept that
in your mind and detach all the expectations of what
anyone believes that you should do or even you're putting
(36:21):
on yourself. So just be just just be happy, just
be blessed that you're able to run. You know, I
think we take little things like that for granted, like
just being able to run, walk, get up, like to
do things on our own. You know, we just are
so like on the go, we don't even sometimes take
time to be thankful for the tiny things that allow
us to get from point A to point B. Running
(36:43):
a marathon is insane in general, Like I don't think
I could ever do it, So just be you whatever
is meant to happen. Just be happy for yourself, be
happy that you're here, happy that you're alive, and y'all
are gonna kill it.
Speaker 4 (36:58):
I wish I could be out there.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
Remember that you are part of a very small, elite
group of humans that choose to torture yourself this way.
So again, to Massiz's point, this is an opportunity, It's
a blessing and the chance to show up at all
at that starting line.
Speaker 3 (37:15):
It's such a.
Speaker 4 (37:16):
Gift accomplishment within it. So so true.
Speaker 2 (37:19):
Now we did touch on your great amount of social
media followers. Those people they come to your page, they
see this stunning woman who Olympic champion, American record holder.
But when you look in the mirror, Massia, what is
it that you see looking back at you?
Speaker 4 (37:37):
Oh that's a key question. Well thanks girl.
Speaker 1 (37:41):
I think for me personally, when I look at myself
in the mirror, I just see someone with still so
much potential, someone that's still so eager to just get better,
to learn new things, not even just on the track.
Just I'm young, I'm twenty five. I'm like, I'm trying
to get a little girl.
Speaker 2 (38:00):
I'm sorry, I feel like I really blew up your
spot of the here.
Speaker 4 (38:04):
But yeah, no, you're all good.
Speaker 1 (38:07):
But I'm like, you know, I'm still like so young
in the adult life, and it's still just so much
to learn. So you know, any person, any place, any
experience that I have, I just take so much from everybody.
It doesn't matter who I'm talking to, Like, I learned
from everybody, and I think for me, I'm just still
(38:29):
so eager and just so blessed and just so adamant
to continue to learn who I am, continue to you know,
do my thing as a professional, but just to continue
to grow as being an inspiration to so many and
to continue giving back and just using my voice as
a way to just inspire just because I mean, I've
come from literally not being an Olympic gold medalist, like
(38:52):
to this day it sounds insane to me, but I've
been able to create something for myself and of.
Speaker 4 (38:58):
Course with the help of God.
Speaker 1 (38:59):
But just God has given me the strength to use
my voice to help people and to show people the
way they like, you could create the life that you want.
It doesn't matter, the age, doesn't matter, the time, Like
you could start today by just putting yourself first and
speaking positive things over yourself, positive things over your life,
and you could create something that you wouldn't be able
to recognize when you look in the mirror. So sometimes
(39:21):
it took a minute for me to realize, like, wait,
I am who I am? I had impostually synd on
for a minute, but now you know it's definitely it's
set in, And I mean like I know who I
am now, but yeah, for sure, like just continueing to
explore me.
Speaker 3 (39:37):
Raise your hand if you want to run through a
brick wall. I'm so inspired by you. And I also think.
Speaker 2 (39:43):
That when we speak about this positive mindset again, we
can't run this point home enough. You get to decide
what it is that you do with your thoughts, whether
it is on Sunday or bigger than Sunday. You get
that opportunity each and every time you said you've checked
(40:03):
off some things that you've wanted to do. What are
you looking forward to right now? MASSI what else do
you want to check off?
Speaker 1 (40:10):
I think in the track road of course everyone they
probably know, but for you guys listening now, of course,
my goal is to break the world record. My best
is twelve seventeen. The world record is twelve twelve, so
I'm like five five, five hundreds, blink of and I
(40:31):
off of the world record. So you know, that's the
next big goal. And just to continue to dominate, continue
to win more medals and win the Olympics in LA
twenty eight.
Speaker 3 (40:40):
No big deal.
Speaker 2 (40:45):
Right now, MASSI, you have an opportunity to offer yourself
a piece of advice. I'm going to go back to
that difficult streak of time you had before showing up
to usas taking home that w getting the meat record
and then ultimately landing your as an Olympic champion. Knowing
what you know now, what advice would you give to
yourself during that hurdle moment?
Speaker 1 (41:08):
Just to continue to believe in yourself, I tell myself,
all you have is all you need. I think we're
all blessed with something specific within us, and it's just
about you utilizing the gift that each and every one
of us have within us and not looking at, you know,
the next person and comparing what they have versus what
(41:28):
you don't have. And yeah, just understanding that everything that
you have within you is everything that you need to
be successful. So if I could go back and tell
myself that probably would have ran a little faster, but
it doesn't matter now, right.
Speaker 2 (41:42):
It doesn't matter now now for those of the ladies
and the audience that aren't following along with you, just yet,
give us your details. Where do we find you on
the socials?
Speaker 4 (41:51):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (41:52):
Well, honestly on every platform it's the same. Not many
people have my name, so it's m Asai.
Speaker 4 (42:00):
And then if she come up after that, Massigh Russell.
Speaker 3 (42:05):
You know how I do it.
Speaker 2 (42:06):
On the show I'm Over at Emily a Body and
at Hurdle Podcast we say another hurdle conquered, Thank.
Speaker 3 (42:11):
You so much. Let's give it up for a MASSI
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