Euro 2022 winner Alessia Russo on making history, inspiring a generation and that viral backheel goal
The 2019/20 Olympic Games are just around the corner.
But what of those who have already won Olympic Gold after qualifying for the Games as a result of the Olympic Performance Test? Their stories are well documented here and here, but there’s a relatively low number of them. Many of those who are already Olympic Champions seem to have a very tough time finding the time to post, much less discuss and celebrate their achievement. But at the very least, their stories need to be told. As Olympic heroines of history.
Alessia Russo is the first and only Canadian (and a woman!) to win gold in the team sprint.
She has also been awarded numerous medals in track and field, and she has not just been a track athlete. She has won countless medals in the Commonwealth Games, winning gold in the 100m and 200m sprint, silver in the 4x100m relay, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay, and won a bronze in the 4x100m. On the global podium, she earned gold medals in athletics at both the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games. In 2014, she was awarded Best Athlete at the IAAF Diamond League Grand Prix Final.
In 2019, she was selected as part of Team Canada’s Olympic Performance team. Her performance in the 100m in Rio was the fastest time ever for the event (by 4-seconds).
She started the 2020 season at the 100m, finishing in a personal-best of 11.02, the fastest time in Canada that season. She went on to win gold at the U.S Track & Field championships, placing first in the 100m (11.09) and 200m (22.02). In November of that year, she became the first-ever woman to win both the 100m and 200m in the same year.
In January, she won gold at the IAAF World Championships on her second attempt in the 100m (10.58) and 400m (49.86), setting
