Woman to Woman With Brittni Mason

Ari: What's up, y'all? It's your girl, Ari Chambers, here with Team USA and I have Brittni Mason right next to me. You are a three-time Paralympic medalist and a world record holder. Can we get into it? What I love about you is I immediately notice your presence. It's so feminine, so powerful. And I know that that's kind of a reason why you got into track. Can you talk to me about why you chose track and field over all the other sports that you did?

Brittni: Yeah, for sure. And thank you for the compliment, by the way. Honestly, I played a lot of sports growing up and track was the one that resonated with me the most. Growing up watching the Olympics and the girls wearing the cute uniforms, the nails, their hair being done, that really resonated with me and I was like, "Oh my goodness, this is so cute. They're so fast. They're feminine, but they're also athletes." And so that's a big reason why I kind of got into the sport and really stuck with it.

Ari: Who is one woman track athlete that you were like, "I want to be like her." What about her did you love?

Brittni: Yeah, so she was just so blinged out every time I would watch her run. Her hair was always cool, different colors. Her nails were always done and she was just short and powerful. I'm really short and you don't see a lot of real true short sprinters anymore. So I was like, "Oh my goodness, I could be just like her when I get older." She was just really good in sportsmanship and all around a phenomenal athlete.

Ari: How do you balance that power with the hyper femininity that you explained?

Brittni: I had to kind of get over the fact of having that muscular body build of being an athlete and also beingfeminine. So just kind of appreciating my build and that this is something that is going to get me far inlife. And so that's just kind of how I've kind of utilized that.

Ari: What do you love most about your body?

Brittni: I like that, I'm short. I mean, I'd like to be a little bit taller, but it's okay. I like that I have that athletictrack body build and that I've kept it for a really long time, so I'm going to keep running so I can keep it.

Ari: One thing I love about Olympians and Paralympians, you all represent something greater thany ourselves. My mom was actually born with one hand. And if she had the representation that you all have now, I think that her life would've been very different. So what message do you have to anyone out there who wants to enter a sport when they perceive themselves to be at a disadvantage

Brittni: Honestly that the sky's the limit. And don't let anyone tell you that you can't do what you want to do, and that you can reach your goals. I actually had no idea that I was even eligible for Para until I was 21 years old. I've been running track for 10 years, well since I was 10 years old actually, so 16 years and had no idea that I would have the success that I have today. So I just say the sky's the limit. I want more success. And I've already had a very successful journey, but that's not stopping me.