“I don’t really see the hurdles: I sense them, like a memory,” said the legendary Edwin Moses, the hurdler who revolutionized an entire discipline, propelling it into the future. Today, his legacy reverberates in the multidimensional influences and interwoven visions of athletes like Cyréna Samba-Mayela, who continues to redefine the sport, imbuing it with new meanings and evolutions, while transforming the track into an atelier or exhibition space, where human identity and athleticism are seamlessly united.

Through the refined lens of Yoann Guerini, we immerse ourselves in the personal ‘solar system’ of the silver medalist in the 100m hurdles in Paris: a planetary orbit that revolves around family roots, artistic sensibility, and fashion muse, alongside faith and a deep love for a sport that allows no room for error, yet it grants polymathic minds like Cyréna’s the freedom to express potential that transcends mere physical performance. Hurdles are an ongoing journey of self-exploration and redefinition. While Moses saw them as a memory, for the European champion in Rome, they embody the core of a rare and precious magma — a force we can uncover through her own words.

You were born in Champigny-sur-Marne to a Congolese family. How have your cultural background and your family’s roots helped shape your identity? And how do they still influence you today, in your role as a French national icon?

“I believe having a multicultural background has broadened my mind and shaped me into feeling like a child of the world—embracing the richness of both my French and Congolese heritage, and remaining curious about even more. Now, I love to travel the globe, discovering and connecting with people and places from all walks of life. This journey inspires me every day to learn new things, understand strangers, and cultivate more love and acceptance for my neighbors, especially young people around the world, since I’ve met so many through track and field. It’s shaped my purpose, which is to spread a positive message of hope and love to anyone open to connecting through sport—especially those who might feel lost, empty, or in need of encouragement to become their best selves and find happiness.”

Reflecting on the hurdles, and also recalling your first encounter with them, what emotions arise? What do these symbolic elements of your sport represent to you, and how has your relationship with them evolved over time?

“I can still remember the adrenaline and excitement I felt facing those hurdles, like an extreme adventurer. It was dangerous and scary, but I wasn’t afraid to take on those obstacles. I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with high sensations. Even now, I try to cherish those feelings to keep that first love for hurdling alive, because it can be tough. Sometimes you fall, and you hate them. You develop a block and start fearing the hurdles. After a long break, you can even forget how to hurdle, and then it feels like meeting them all over again, like strangers.”

In your discipline, there is absolutely no room for error. In past interviews, you’ve said that this gives you unparalleled ‘chills.’ How do you handle the anxiety of potential mistakes, and what are the secrets to mastering the density and complexities of your sport?

“I embrace it, and I have fun. There’s always another race, another opportunity to improve. I make the most of that, striving to learn each time how I can be a better hurdler than I was before. I find love in perfecting my craft because I genuinely love what I do. I’m already grateful and find joy in that simple fact. When I step back and reflect, not everyone gets to live this life. Even though it’s an incredibly challenging path, there’s so much to be thankful for, and I choose to focus on the positive aspects of it.”

Faith plays a central role in your life. Could you explain the value of your spiritual side and how this impacts your athletic path? How does the transcendence of religion blend with the immanence of statistics, numbers, and times?

“I truly believe the only reason I’m on this path is because of God, and that He has given me a purpose to be a light in the world. Faith makes me believe that everything is possible, and that numbers should merely reflect the application of that faith through the work I put in. For most people, statistics, numbers, and times can feel like limitations, dictating what you can or cannot do based on past achievements and the collective belief in what’s humanly possible. But faith transcends that. If God is all-powerful, and you are His child and vessel, then you inherit His power. Through you, He performs miracles, breaks barriers, and shatters records that seem unthinkable to humans.”

You’ve described 2024 as the year of your life: vice-world champion indoors, European champion, Olympic silver medalist… How has this monumental season impacted Cyréna the athlete and Cyréna the person?

“I don’t really separate the two because I’ve dedicated my entire self to track and field and have shaped my life around it. Through that journey, I gained a great deal of confidence and built a lot of resilience. It feels like a part of me died and was reborn, stronger, because the path was filled with unpredictable challenges that could’ve left me broken if I had stopped believing. It wasn’t perfect; I wish I’d learned some lessons sooner, but I trust that God has been guiding me, and He knows what’s best for me, in His own time. Now, I’m eager to see where this new chapter and adventure will take me.”

In Paris, you won a silver medal that carried deep significance. After fears, tension, and insecurities, you allowed yourself a liberating cry, yet you also mentioned smiling before the race, feeling like entering the track was like stepping into a party. Can you describe this strange emotional wave that marked the most important stage of your personal and sporting journey? What are the next emotional waves you want to experience?

“As I’ve mentioned, I went through some really tough moments on my journey to the Olympics, and I’m the kind of person who tends to hold things in until the work is done. Many times, it felt like what we’d call in France « marche ou crève »—which translates to ‘do or die’. It feels much more powerful and dramatic in French (Cyréna smiles ed.). But I didn’t have the time to stop and reflect; I had to keep moving forward. That’s why, in many ways, I felt like I died during that journey. Those images of me crossing the finish line are a reflection of how hard and meaningful it was for me to achieve that, and a release of all the stress I had carried for years. It represents the weight of all the sacrifices I bore on my shoulders. Now, the emotional waves I want to experience are filled more with fun and joy, and, hopefully, great surprises.”

“Dress good to look good. Look good to feel good. And feel good to run fast!” Florence Griffith-Joyner’s words seem to reflect your approach to life and sport. Is that so? Can you talk about the relationship between fashion and hurdles in your life? How would you define your style, and how much does it take over the track?

“These words resonate with me 100% because I live by them every day, both on and off the track. When I run, I bring my most authentic self to the race, and when it comes to hurdles, every time I step onto the track, I not only want to showcase my skills but also express myself as a woman who is passionate about art, design, and fashion. Competitions often feel like a runway show during fashion week for me, and I’m the designer proudly presenting my creations to the crowd.”

You’ve revealed that you’re the ‘artist’ of your family and have a special fascination for drawing. What role does art play in your life, and when/how did it become a part of it? How do you plan to develop this creative side in the future?

“I was an artist before I became an athlete, and honestly, I never expected to step into the world as an athlete instead of an artist, but God certainly has a sense of humor. As a kid, I used to live in my own world, drawing day and night, all through my teenage years. It shaped my vision of the world because I was always highly observant. I’ve always had a rich inner life, full of imagination, and I loved bringing the things in my head and the things I saw to life through drawing and painting. I transferred that creative energy into sport by turning wild athletic dreams into reality, all imagined in my mind. Currently, I’m studying interior design and architecture.

I’ve also been learning instruments, like piano and guitar, and I enjoy street photography, especially when I’m out for a walk or, more often, during competitions, capturing beautiful moments and the emotions of the people around me. When I dress, I seek harmony and structure, and I often express my emotions through the colors I wear. My loved ones often ask me to help with their makeovers, which is another way for me to help them express themselves and highlight their unique beauty. Art is at my core, and I’ll never stop creating.”

Could you elaborate further on the philosophy behind your photographic search? What does this artistic medium instill in you?

“When it comes to photography, I believe that our eyes don’t all filter life, its meaning, or the world in the same way. We don’t always see the beauty in things. But I know my eyes are always searching for it. One image can speak volumes. I like to find what makes things or people unique, and I find beauty in that authenticity. I play with environments, lighting, and shadows to highlight the exact detail that caught my eye—the uniqueness that truly deserves to be appreciated. Capturing what fascinates me in someone or something allows me to preserve my own feelings about it, so I can relive them whenever I want, as closely as possible to that first moment.”

Sporting excellence, artistic exploration, a fashion sensibility… your personality is increasingly multifaceted. What is the state of the art and essence of Cyréna Samba-Mayela today? How far along do you feel you are in your evolution, and what are your short- and long-term goals?

“Coming closer to the Olympics, I had to slow down with my creative side because it was difficult for me to feel inspired in hardship. Now, I feel a need to go back to my artistic origins and I have more freedom of mind to do it. I want to get my degree in interior design and architecture and create some projects around all those facets I have in the future.”