PARIS − Team USA’s Brittni Mason beamed with joy as she received her silver medal on the podium at Stade de France on Tuesday night, finishing the women’s 100m T47 race in a time of 12.10 seconds.

However, that smile was missing during her pre-race preparations.

“I’m just focusing on my race,” Mason reflected. “I need to tune in to what’s important before I get into the starting blocks because everyone knows you can’t sprint and think at the same time.”

It has been a long eight days since the Paris Paralympics began, and Mason has been diligent in minimizing distractions leading up to her race.

“Honestly, I haven’t even explored the city,” Mason admitted. “I’ve just been sleeping, eating, training, and recovering, trying to stay focused on my first event.”

In a race that concluded in a matter of seconds, the difference between the gold and silver medals was a slim six one-hundredths of a second, with Ecuador’s Kiara Rodriguez securing first place at 12.04 seconds.

Mason believes this accomplishment will keep her momentum going.

“I finished the 100 strongly,” she expressed. “It has boosted my confidence and provided motivation for my next event. I’ll consult with my coach to address any adjustments needed, then take a few rest days before moving on to the 200m.”

The 100m was just the start of Mason’s events, as she will compete in the 200m on Saturday. She and her coaches have focused their training on improving her 100m performance to enhance her endurance for longer races.

“I still have things to refine, but I’ll take this result. I’m truly honored and grateful to compete, to be healthy, and to earn another medal,” Mason stated.

This silver medal marks Mason’s third Paralympic medal and her second in the 100m event. Although she is no stranger to the podium, Mason expressed her tremendous pride in representing her country.

“This feels unreal,” she shared. “Every day I get to pursue what I love, running while representing my nation and winning medals. I’m just overjoyed to be here.”

Mason’s journey to the Paralympics began late; she only discovered her eligibility to compete at age 20. Since birth, she has dealt with limited use of her left arm due to a condition called Erb’s Palsy affecting her brachial plexus. She now actively advocates for the Paralympics to ensure that other athletes with disabilities are aware of their opportunities to compete on a global stage.

“I’ve received countless messages from people with similar disabilities who watched me compete, saying I inspired them to consider pursuing para sports themselves,” Mason recounted. “I’m enthusiastic about engaging them and helping the sport grow.”