A much-needed new track and field star emerged this week, with Sha’Carri Richardson seemingly meeting her fate with a blisteringly fast 100 meters in 10.65 seconds from lane nine of the world championships in Hungary.
A shock start to her semi-final had left her only the fastest loser after narrowly recovering to finish third. It was a phenomenal way for any sprinter to win and after running the walk, Richardson took great pleasure in continuing the conversation afterwards.
A video surfaced on social media of her flying past reporters, draped in an American flag, saying “no thank you” and appearing to decline any offer to speak further of her triumph.
A flamboyant character but sometimes unpredictable, Richardson was sometimes abrupt to reporters at her subsequent press conference, flanked by Jamaicans Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce who placed second and third respectively.
She corrected a reporter for mispronouncing her name and scolded another reporter for pointing out she missed last year’s world championships.
Sha’Carri Richardson has shown why she can become the next US track and field star this week in Hungary
In lane nine, she recorded a sensational victory in the 100 meters in Budapest on Monday
The 23-year-old celebrates after receiving the gold medal for her incredible victory
“Obviously I wasn’t on the team last year, but I don’t think you needed to say that,” she said. “It’s about having people around me who genuinely care about me. Just stay committed and focused, shut out the noise, shut out the media like you, and just keep moving forward.”
She added, “I just felt like I ran a great race for myself, not even knowing where the other ladies were. I was alone in my own world, which has honestly been that way all my life.
“I’ve always been in my own world, my own element, so job nine was perfect for me to do what I know how to do and focus on myself.”
Richardson was born in Dallas and was raised by her grandmother and an aunt. She is guarded about her relationship with her mother, who she found out from a reporter in an interview in 2021 that she had recently passed away.
Richardson said she used marijuana to help her cope after learning that news and in turn failing a drug test that will rule her out of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
“Honestly, yes, that’s the story,” she told TODAY after the bombshell news of her failed test emerged. “I just thought it was a normal interview and hearing that information from a complete stranger was definitely triggering. It was definitely nerve wracking.
“I’m not offended at him at all, he was doing his job, but that definitely put me in a state of emotional panic. I was blinded by emotion, blinded by grief.”
Richardson celebrates with spectators after her striking victory Monday night
Richardson was raised by her grandmother – here she is pictured celebrating with her after qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics
Richardson would later be banned from the Tokyo Games after testing positive for marijuana
This year, Richardson won the US nationals with a time of 10.82 seconds, saying, “Now I’m back here with you and I’m ready, mentally, physically and emotionally.” I’m here to say, ‘I’m not back, I’m better. I’m not back, I’m better.’
She always talked well, too much, according to Usain Bolt.
“I would tell Sha’Carri to train harder and be focused and not say too much,” Bolt told the New York Post in 2021. ‘If you make big talk, you have to support it.
“So just train hard and focus on that and try to come back and do it and then talk about it.”
When Richardson initially qualified for the 2021 Olympics, she thanked her friend for choosing her bright orange hair color. Her style is something she has become synonymous with for a while – she also often races with long nails painted in lavish colors.
“My girlfriend actually chose my color,” Richardson said. “She said it like it spoke to her, the fact that it was so loud and lively, and that’s who I am.”
Richardson spoke about her ban in an interview with TODAY after the shocking news broke
Richardson’s energy and flamboyance are good for athletics and will draw attention to the sport
Richardson never elaborated on who her girlfriend is, but tweeted a rainbow emoji that same day.
It’s less than a year until the next Olympic Games, with the final of the women’s 100 meters scheduled for August 3 in Paris at the Stade de France. Richardson will arrive with the eyes of the world on her shoulders.
There’s clearly a combustible streak to her character that, while taking her to glory as a sprinter, can sometimes be an energy she may need to learn to harness. It is also noted that her trainer Dennis Mitchell was convicted of doping in his own career in 1998.
But if she continues to thrive under the attention she’s in, she’ll be the most captivating participant in those Games.