Sha’Carri Richardson

Sha’Carri Richardson (born March 25, 2000, Dallas, Texas, U.S.) is one of the world’s fastest female sprinters, known for her record-breaking performances in the 100-meter dash. The American runner first garnered national attention in 2021 when she qualified for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo (delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic), though she missed the Games after testing positive for marijuana. Richardson rebounded from that setback, and in 2023 she posted the fifth fastest time in the women’s 100 meters (10.65 sec).

Early life and LSU

Richardson had no relationship with her biological parents and was raised by her grandmother and aunt. She was a member of a track-and-field club while attending middle school, and at David W. Carter High School in Dallas she became a star athlete. In 2016, as a sophomore, Richardson competed on the national level at the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympics and won the 100-meter dash. The following year she claimed a bronze medal in the 200 meters at the USA Track and Field (USATF) National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships. Also in 2017 she made her international debut, running at the Pan American U20 Athletics Championship. There she won a gold medal in the 4 × 100-meter relay.

After graduating from high school in 2018, Richardson enrolled at Louisiana State University (LSU). During her freshman season, in 2019, she set an National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) record when she ran the 100-meter dash in 10.75 sec. Richardson’s achievements that year—she went undefeated in the 100 meters—were recognized by the NCAA when she was presented with The Bowerman, awarded to the most outstanding NCAA track-and-field male athlete and female athlete of the year. After her successful first year in college, Richardson left LSU in 2019 to compete professionally. Shortly thereafter she also signed a lucrative contract with Nike.

From scandal to stardom

In 2021 Richardson competed in the U.S. Olympic trials, where she placed first in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.86 sec. The win qualified her for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, which had been moved to 2021. However, her career took a turn when she tested positive for marijuana during a routine drug test. She subsequently was suspended by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, and her competition results were disqualified, meaning that she was unable to race in the 100-meter event in Tokyo. Richardson stated that she had used marijuana as a way of coping with the recent death of her biological mother and that she had used the drug in Oregon, where it is legal. Many believed that the suspension was unjustified, and she was praised for publicly accepting responsibility. Nike announced that the company would continue its sponsorship of Richardson.

Soon after the Olympics in 2021, Richardson competed in the 100-meter event at the Prefontaine Classic, where she faced the recent Olympic medalists. However, she finished in last place, posting a time of 11.14 sec. At the 2022 USATF Outdoor Championships, she also had disappointing results, failing to reach the finals in both the 100 meters and the 200 meters. She thus did not qualify for the 2022 world championships.

Richardson rebounded in 2023 with a series of stellar performances. In July she competed at the USATF Outdoor Championships and won the 100-meter dash. Later that year at the world championships in Budapest, she won a gold medal in the 100-meter dash, finishing in 10.65 sec, which was the fifth fastest time for female sprinters; Florence Griffith Joyner set the record of 10.49 sec in 1988. Richardson also was a member of the gold-medal-winning team in the 4 × 100-meter relay, and she earned a bronze medal in the 200-meter race. She is expected to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Style and personality

On and off the track, Richardson is known for her bold signature style, which includes vibrant hair colors and wigs, false eyelashes, and long nails. She also has attracted fans with her tenacity and confidence.