Cyréna Samba-Mayela

Pressure makes diamonds and that’s what racing the best hurdlers in the world on the biggest stages brings out in Cyrèna Samba-Mayela. The French national record holder first made her mark on the international stage winning the 2022 World Indoor Championship 60m hurdles at 21 years old. That’s where global fans were introduced to her punching first steps out of the blocks.

With the force of a loaded pinball at the start, her success continued at the European Championships as Cyrèna ended the race by hurdle three and finished in 12.31 seconds.

Then this past summer, under the eyes and expectations of her home nation, Samba-Mayela delivered a silver medal in a thrilling 12 second drag race that erupted the fans in the Stade de France into frenzy. She walked onto the track a hopeful, and left a super star.

If Grand Slam Track is for ‘Only the fastest’ then Cyrèna Samba-Mayela fits the bill. And if another Racer gets caught sleeping in the blocks, then they’ll wake up to see it’s already over.