30 meters from the finish line, Sha’Carri Richardson pointed at the clock. A few powerful strides later, she blazed through the line to win her semifinal heat of the women’s 100m at the US Olympic Trials in 10.64 seconds.
In that moment she let us all know that Sha’Carri had arrived.
The former LSU star and current princess of US sprinting has been wowing track fans for almost two years. With her bright hairstyles, infectious smile, and unabated confidence, Richardson has left a trail of smoke at every track in her brief yet inspiring career.
In 2018, Sha’Carri was the number one track recruit in the nation. She signed with LSU and immediately opened eyes.
As a freshman in 2019, she rewrote the record books. At the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships, she clocked a 10.75 in the 100m, breaking the collegiate record (10.78) set by LSU’s Dawn Sewell 30 years prior. That mark made her the fastest junior sprinter ever and placed her in ninth place in the all-time 100m record book. About an hour later, she took second in the 200m with a time of 22.17, besting Alyson Felix’s world junior record of 22.18
All as a freshman.
Less than a week later on June 12th, Sha’Carrri announced she was turning pro on IG.
“After talking to family and praying for guidance with this decision, I would like to announce that I have decided to pursue my lifelong dream and become a professional athlete,” wrote Richardson in her post.
Her potential was easy to recognize. She starred at Dallas Carter High School, winning four individual state titles in Texas. She was a two-time Texas Relays champ in the 100m and placed fourth in the 100m in 2018.
Once she arrived at LSU, she made her presence felt. Not just through her times, but with her personality and style.
She lights up a stadium with her smile after her victories but possesses a scowl that can freeze the unknowing before a race. Her nails are long and colorful, surpassed only by her hair, which has fluctuated from Black, blond, and red to blue and orange. The orange she wore this past weekend was befitting as it looked like a bolt of fire had ignited in her lane once she caught her stride.
She has a confidence that draws you to her. That’s evident in her post-race interviews when she talks her talk, leaving people inspired by her words and aura.
“My goal was to be the best I could be as soon as I could be the best,” she stated emphatically.
Her inner circle is small, consisting of her coach, family and team. On Saturday night we learned how intimate and important her circle is when she disclosed that her biological mother passed away earlier in the week. It was a stunning revelation, one that shocked everyone watching.
For Sha’Carri, this appeared to be another obstacle she had to overcome in her life. She gave us a small glimpse into it by letting us know about her biological mom and noting that no one knows what she deals with except her inner circle.
But it was the moment she shared with her grandmother after her victory that captured everyone’s emotions and fandom. The cameras raced after Sha’Carri as she ascended the stadium steps to her family. That’s when she let it all out.
She was breathless and overcome with emotion as she hugged her grandmother. She did everything she could to hold her granddaughter up, but Sha’Carri was exasperated and melted into her embrace. It was a moment felt by everyone. A moment where all of the sacrifice and hard work finally paid dividends.
Fortunately for us, we all got to share in that moment thanks to the camera that followed her.
That moment gifted us another reason to love track’s new star.
Sha’Carri as Flo Jo 2.0?
For those who don’t follow the sport, it’s based upon individual success and effort. Sprinters, in particular, are known for having lots of confidence, big personalities, and even bigger egos. It’s not as appreciated in America outside of Olympic years, so the chip sprinters carry on their shoulders is understandable.
Sprinters are some of the greatest athletes in the world, and their speed can quickly deflate the egos of other athletes. We saw that with DK Metcalf’s brave attempt at running the 100m. Impressive as he was for a 6’4, 235 lbs. football player, his speed was nothing compared to that of a real sprinter.
That’s no shade at DK. It’s just that professional track demands track 24/7/365. There are no part-timers at the professional and Olympic levels.
That big personality is reflected in Richardson. Yet she also possesses a quiet vulnerability that draws fans closer to her. She’s a fierce competitor yet almost bubbly after a race. That uniqueness attracts fans of all types to her journey.
In the 100m final on Saturday night, Sha’Carri got off to her usual slow start. She started reeling her competition at 40m. At 70m she turned on the jets and ate up the remainder of the track. She blazed through the line and threw up her arms.
“I’m a f*ing Olympian!” she screamed.
That scream was heard across the world. It was pure joy and served as a reminder that Sha’Carri Richardson had arrived and is coming for gold.
Sha’Carri has the tools to medal at the Olympics.
She has the energy, personality, and flair to captivate the Olympics. Her style is reminiscent of the great Florence Griffith-Joyner. If she delivers the race of her life, she has a shot at breaking Flo Jo’s 1988 world record time of 10.49.
Fortunately for her, she has her family to support her and keep her focused.
“My family has kept me grounded,” Richardson said in her post-race interview. “This year has been crazy for me. Going from just last week, losing my biological mother, and I’m still here.”
When asked about her mother, she took a breath and continued.
“I’m still here. Last week, finding out my biological mother passed away and still choosing to pursue my dreams, still coming out here, still here to make the family that I do still have on this earth proud. And the fact [is] nobody knows what I go through. Everybody has struggles and I understand that, but y’all see me on this track and y’all see the poker face I put on, but nobody but them and my coach know what I go through on a day-to-day basis.
“I’m highly grateful for them. Without them, there would be no me. Without my grandmother, there would be no Sha’Carri Richardson. My family is my everything, my everything until the day I’m done.”
But she’s not done yet. She has the 200m trials on Thursday and then it’s on to Tokyo.
Fortunately for track fans and those just joining the sport, Sha’Carri Richardson is just getting started.
