American hurdler Masai Russell has broken Tobi Amusan’s women’s 100m hurdles world record, clocking 12.09 seconds at the Zurich Diamond League.

Russell shaved 0.03 seconds off Amusan’s previous world record of 12.12 seconds, which had stood for four years.

Amusan finished second in a season’s best 12.23 seconds, while the Netherlands’ Nadine Visser placed third in 12.34 seconds, also a season’s best.

The race developed into a thrilling battle between Russell and Amusan. Russell made the faster start before Amusan closed the gap by the fourth hurdle, with the pair running virtually level through the seventh.

Russell then produced a decisive surge in the closing stages to pull clear and cross the line in a new world-record time.

The defeat extended a difficult run of results for Amusan, who has struggled to win some of the major races she has contested this season, including a third-place finish at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Russell’s record-breaking performance also made her the first woman in 28 years to simultaneously hold the 100m hurdles world record and Olympic gold medal.

The American remains unbeaten in 2026 and has now won all seven Diamond League races she has contested this season.