American Olympic champion Masai Russell has broken Tobi Amusan’s women’s 100m hurdles world record after producing a sensational 12.09-second run at the Zurich Diamond League on Thursday.
Russell powered away from Amusan after the final hurdle before crossing the line in a new world record, subject to ratification.
Her time erased the 12.12 mark Amusan set in the semi-finals of the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, ending the Nigerian’s four-year reign as the fastest woman in the history of the event.
Amusan also delivered her fastest performance of the season, clocking 12.23 seconds to finish second behind Russell.
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The Netherlands’ Nadine Visser completed the podium with a season-best 12.34, while Jamaica’s Danielle Williams placed fourth in 12.56.
Russell had been threatening Amusan’s record throughout the season. The 25-year-old came within two-hundredths of the mark when she ran 12.14 at the Xiamen Diamond League in May, the second-fastest performance in history at the time.
This time, however, the American found another level in Zurich, producing a flawless finish to become the first woman to run under 12.10 seconds in legal conditions.
“I actually did not expect it,” Russell said after the race. “I just came to the line and had no expectations on what I could do.”
Despite losing the world record, Amusan’s 12.12 remains the African record.
The 29-year-old made history with that performance in Eugene before going on to win the final and become Nigeria’s first world champion in athletics.
Russell, the reigning Olympic champion, now adds the world record to an impressive collection of achievements as she continues a dominant 2026 season.
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