Thrilling Photo Finish: US Runner Ties for Gold in 100m Hurdles Showdown

PARIS, France — The Stade de France has been a cauldron of excitement for nine consecutive nights, welcoming sports stars from around the globe.

In a nail-biting finish in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, America’s Masai Russell clinched victory on Saturday. The race was so tight that Russell had to wait an agonizing 15 seconds to confirm her win over France’s Cyrena Samba-Mayela by a mere .01 seconds.

Defending champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico secured the bronze, trailing by just .02 seconds. The loudest cheers, however, were reserved for Samba-Mayela, who ended France’s medal drought on the final day of the track meet with her silver medal. This marks the first medal of any color for France in this Olympic track competition.

Previously, the most ecstatic applause for a French athlete came for swimmer Léon Marchand, who earned gold in the pool on the meet’s opening night. Such a response even prompted race officials to ask for quiet as people watched the events on their devices. Yet, Samba-Mayela’s achievement gave the home crowd another personal moment of celebration, a rare treat for a nation known for its strong track tradition.

France, despite producing notable Olympic champions like Marie-José Pérec and Renaud Lavillenie, has not secured an Olympic gold on the track since Lavillenie’s pole vault victory in 2012. This silver medal, though not gold, still resonates powerfully within the country’s rich track and field legacy.