Masai Russell, the Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalist in the women’s 100m hurdles, recently opened up about the immense challenges she faces as she balances her athletic career with entrepreneurship. While many might view her life as glamorous and straightforward, Russell reveals that the behind-the-scenes reality is anything but easy. The Olympian has worked tirelessly to create a life where she can be both a professional athlete and a business owner, but this dual identity requires a level of focus and determination that often goes unnoticed by the public.
On the Sports Xposure Podcast, Russell shared candid insights into the difficulties of juggling these two demanding roles. She acknowledged that, to the outside world, it might appear as if everything comes effortlessly, especially for someone in her position. However, the reality is that managing a business while competing at the highest levels of track and field is a constant challenge. “It’s not easy, of course, as anybody could probably guess,” she said. “I mean, they probably think it’s easy just the way that I make it look, or a lot of entrepreneurs make it look. We just make it look like it’s easy, but really, it’s a lot.”
Entrepreneurship, much like her athletic career, is a job that demands relentless effort. There are no set hours and no guarantees, and each day presents a new challenge. Russell compared her entrepreneurial journey to the unpredictability of an athlete’s life, where outcomes are uncertain, and success often hinges on mindset. She emphasized that whether it’s a great day or a difficult one, maintaining the right mental attitude is crucial to achieving long-term success. In her view, it’s the same approach she takes when facing hurdles on the track: determination, focus, and resilience are key to moving forward.
While her experiences at the NCAA level of athletics were formative and invaluable, Russell admits that the transition to professional sports was starkly different. At the collegiate level, there is a sense of community, a team-oriented environment where responsibilities are shared. As a professional, however, she finds herself solely responsible for her performance and her brand. This transition can be daunting as it places the entire weight of success on the individual athlete, but Russell embraces this responsibility, recognizing that it gives her the freedom to shape her own career path.
In her new role as a professional, Russell is not only competing for titles and records, but she is also representing herself as a brand. “As a professional, it’s all on you. It’s how much you want to put into it. It’s your brand,” she explained. This realization highlights the intense personal and professional pressures that come with being an elite athlete in today’s world. There is no longer the long-term security that comes with college contracts or institutional backing. Instead, Russell is constantly working to prove herself not just as an athlete but as a businesswoman as well.
For Russell, sponsorships and contracts with major companies like Nike are a vital part of her career, but these relationships come with their own set of pressures. She explained that, unlike full-time employees, contractors like herself must always deliver tangible results. “With Nike, I’m a contractor. I’m technically not on staff. You’ve got to show for yourself,” she said. Her performances on the track and her public image are directly linked to her value as a sponsor and business partner. There is little room for complacency, and every race is an opportunity to prove not just her athleticism, but her ability to maintain and grow her personal brand.
Despite the challenges and pressures of balancing these two demanding roles, Russell remains committed to her dual identity. She described herself as “more than an athlete,” acknowledging the hard work that goes into being both a professional competitor and a business owner. “It’s a lot sometimes,” she confessed, but she remains steadfast in her belief that this is the path she is meant to follow. “Whatever lane God has for you, that’s for you,” she said, showing a deep sense of faith and determination. In her eyes, this dual career is not just a job it’s her calling, and she is thriving in it.
For Russell, the challenges of entrepreneurship and athletics are not deterrents but motivators. Her journey is a testament to the resilience required to succeed in multiple spheres. She has built a business and a career that are intertwined with her identity as an athlete, and she continues to navigate the complex balance of these roles with grace and ambition. As she moves forward in her career, Russell exemplifies the power of perseverance and the importance of maintaining control over one’s own narrative in the fast-paced world of professional sports and business.
