Sha’Carri Richardson was in the blocks and ready.
The field for the Women’s 100m Finals of the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Oregon was set. The straightaway was clear for her ascent to stardom. All she needed to do was win and she was on to Tokyo.
Sha’Carri she did just that, blazing through the line in 10.87.
“I’m a f*ing Olympian!” she screamed as she raised her arms in victory.
She jogged around, her infectious smile matching her jubilation. Then she pounded up the stadium steps and collapsed in her grandmother’s arms. At that moment she captured the hearts of fans around the world, especially those outside of the sport. And she put her competition on notice that she was coming for gold and wouldn’t be denied.
But less than two weeks later, her triumph was snatched away after she failed a drug test.
Not for performance-enhancing drugs.
No.
For marijuana.
It shocked the world.
For Sha’Carri Richardson, dreams of summer gold were crushed by an archaic rule prohibiting the use of marijuana during competition. Never mind that it was legal in Oregon, or, as we discovered later, she was dealing with the recent death of her mother.
No.
The reasoning didn’t matter and Sha’Carri’s Olympic moment was deferred to 2024.
A month later, Team Jamaica swept the 100m Olympic field in Tokyo.
Elaine Thompson-Herah took gold (10.61), Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce silver, and Shericka Jackson bronze. Teahna Daniels, the lone American in the finals, finished seventh.
Their sweep thrilled Jamaicans across the globe, but it stung U.S. sprint fans. Thoughts of “if Sha’Carri were there” raged in the minds of the latter, amplifying an already frustrating situation.
So as everyone applauded Team Jamaica’s accomplishment, the brooding over Sha’Carri’s situation and the outdated rules lingered.
To her credit, she received wide-ranging support. The media refrained from vilifying her, which further endeared her to the masses.
Most surprisingly, all of the attention fueled by frustration and anger actually benefitted the sport by giving it the spotlight it needed and deserved.
While it, unfortunately, came at Sha’Carri’s expense, it was a boon to a sport that only receives true support during Olympic years.
Sha’Carri, the Rally Cry
This weekend, Richardson will race against all three Jamaican women at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.
The race hype is slowly percolating, the event’s promotion clearly capitalizing on Sha’Carri’s presence.
USA Track & Field (USATF) has positioned Richardson as the main attraction. Her image looms larger than gold medal-winning athletes such as Athing Mu (800m) and Andre De Grasse (200m).
That is what Sha’Carri’s suspension evolved into.
A name to support and rally around.
Track is one of the most electrifying, intense, thrilling, and underappreciated sports, particularly in the U.S. Some of the best athletes compete in the sport and don’t get the recognition they deserve.
But Sha’Carri’s disqualification and suspension sparked what the sport needed.
Attention and support.
Her hapless situation became a lightning rod for the sport, and it’s capitalizing on it.
USATF won’t even need to address or mention her suspension. Instead, they and the event will garner attention through the mere presence of an athlete who could very well become the new global face of the sport.
It’s a shame that Sha’Carri had to suffer. She deserved her shot at Olympic gold. But her temporary setback has driven interest in track. Now, others outside of the track fanbase will be able to witness the greatness of the sport by tuning in to watch her return. Hopefully, it results in new fans taking to the sport outside of the Summer Games.
In the past, athletes like Carl Lewis and Usain Bolt made the men’s 100m the premier event to watch.
But because of Richardson’s speed, charisma, style, and now unfortunate setback, the women’s 100m will be the event of the weekend. Her punishment and subsequent outcry will have all eyes watching four women named Elaine, Shelly-Ann, Shericka, and Sha’Carri on Saturday afternoon.
And for track, that’s what counts.
