World Champion Sha’Carri Richardson has had tumultuous rise to global fame from a collegiate athlete to a two-time Olympic gold medallist.
Richardson had made waves in her teen years securing multiple titles enroute to her breakthrough year.
As per Team USA Richardson claimed victory in the 100m race at the 2016 AAU Junior Olympics and the 2017 USATF Junior Olympics.
That same year, she made her international debut at the Pan American U20 Athletics Championships, securing a gold medal in the 4x100m relay.
But it was in 2019 that Richardson really announced herself as a strong competitor ahead of the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics games.
In 2019, the then 19-year-old Richardson broke the NCAA collegiate record in both the 100m and 200m that would set her up for her professional debut.
As a Louisiana States University (LSU) freshman Richardson ran10.75 seconds in the 100-meter dash breaking the previous collegiate record of 10.78.
On the same day she ran 22.17 seconds in the 200m also breaking the then U20 record.
This was truly Richardson’s start to rise in fame she went pro the next year eying maiden Olympic qualification.
Sha’Carri Richardson secures maiden Olympic qualification
Sha’Carri Richardson secured her maiden Olympic qualification in 2021.
With most athletics events postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic at the time, the Tokyo Olympics went down in 2021.
Richardson had all the momentum going into the Olympic year and her performances showcased it.
Richardson secured her spot in the 100-meter individual race for the Tokyo Olympics by winning the 2020 U.S. Olympic trials with a time of 10.86 seconds.
Doing so at the age of 21, she became the youngest woman to win the event at the trials.
Sha’Carri Richardson’s roaring comeback at the 2023 World Championships
Sha’Carri Richardson claimed her maiden world title at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
Sha’Carri Richardson is the world’s fastest woman
Following her Tokyo Olympics disqualification, Richardson had to shelve her Olympics aspirations.
In her much anticipated comeback in 2021 Richardson was underwhelming at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugune, Oregon.
She competed in the 100m finishing ninth out of nine competitors with a time of 11.14 seconds.
However, it was in 2023 that Richardson really cemented her comeback, establishing herself as the sprinter to beat.
At the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, she roared to victory in the 100m edging out the likes of Jamaican sprinting excellence duo, Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
She became the world champion finally establishing herself not just as the American sprint queen but as a global icon.
Sha’Cari Richardson claiming maiden Olympic medal in her debut
Why Sha’Carri Richardson does not regret missing out on 100m Olympic gold
Sha’Carri Richardson (L) won 100m silver medal behind Julien Alfred at the Paris Olympic Games. Photo || Imago Why Sha’Carri Richardson does not regret missing out on 100m Olympic gold
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Richardson entered the race on high momentum having blazed through the USA trials.
With the credentials on her ide as the world champion all eyes were on her to replicate her 2023 dominance.
The absence of fierce rivals Shericka Jackson presented Richardson with a glorious opportunity to claim Olympic gold on her debut.
Although she missed out on gold, edged out by St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred, Richardson secured silver in the 100m, bagging her maiden Olympic medal.
Sha’Carri Richardson anchoring team USA to gold
Sha’Carri Richardson won 4x100m gold medals at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
At the same Paris Olympics games, Richardson made a comeback in the 4x100m relay to get her hands on the coveted Olympic gold.
Receiving the baton from Thomas while Team USA were trailing, Richardson mounted a comeback to anchor the team to victory.
She finally secured her Olympic gold, showcasing her resilience, especially after missing out in the 100m.
Now aged 25, Richardson will look to add more career-defining moments under her belt as she aims for more accolades in 2025 and in the future.
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