Sha’Carri Richardson is a record-breaking American track and field sprinter who competes in the 100 and 200-meter races.
The young athlete has made headlines for her incredible sprinting times, glam appearance, and comeback tour, dubbed I’m Not Back, I’m Better.
Who is Sha’Carri Richardson?
Sha’Carri Richardson is an American track and field sprinter.
Richardson was born on March 25, 2000, in Dallas, Texas.
She first rose to fame in college, when, in 2019 as a freshman at Louisiana State University, she broke the 100 m collegiate record at the NCAA Division One Championships with a time of 10.75 seconds.
In April 2021, she ran a 100 m sprint in 10.62 seconds, becoming, at the time, the sixth-fastest woman of all time and the fourth-fastest American woman in history.
Beyond her impressive skill, she has gathered a lot of attention for her attention grabbing look.
During her infamous 100-meter dash, she wore her long bright orange hair half up and half down.
She later said the look was meant to symbolize running on fire.
Richardson often dazzles with long lash extensions, long acrylic nails, and a rotation of bright hair, nail, and outfit colors.
Richardson has said that she takes inspiration from Florence Griffith Joyner, who was also known for her statement-making style.
Richardson’s net worth is estimated to be around $300,000, according to Essentially Sports.
While the average salary of a sprinter in the US is between $45,000 and $50,000 annually, much of Richardson’s net worth likely comes from brand deals and product endorsements.
In 2023, Richardson signed a five-year contract with sports giant Nike, worth a reported $20 million, according to Southern Dallas Magazine.
Will Sha’Carri Richardson be at the Paris Olympics?
Sha’Carri Richardson will be headed to the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.
Richardson won the US Olympic Trials 2024 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
On June 22, 2024, she defended her title as the US national champion in the 100m sprint, winning the women’s 100m final in 10.71 seconds.
Richardson, along with her teammates Melissa Jefferson (10.80 seconds) and Twanisha Terry (10.89 seconds) qualified for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
With just two steps before she reached the finish line of the 100m sprint, a visibly emotional Richardson started pounding her chest.
Her sprint time officially made her the fastest woman in the world this year.
The women’s track and field events during the Paris Olympics kick off on August 2, 2024.
“I feel honored,” Richardson said, as reported by AP News.
“I feel every chapter I’ve been through in my life prepared me for this moment.”
“The emotion was just joy because of the hard work I put in, not just physically on the track, but mentally and emotionally to grow into the mature young lady I am today,” she said.
Why was Sha’Carri Richardson suspended?
Sha’carri Richardson’s historic 2021 run secured her a spot on Team USA ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
However, on July 2, 2021, it was revealed she failed a drug test and would be suspended for a month.
Richardson tested positive for cannabis during the Team USA Olympic trials in Oregon, which the World Health Organization classified as a “substance of abuse.”
While she was ineligible to compete in the Olympics’ 100-meter race, due to her suspension ending on July 27, 2021, she was still eligible to partake in the Women’s 4×100 relay scheduled for August 5, 2021.
On July 6, 2021, USA Track & Field announced that Richardson had not been selected as a member of the 4×100 relay team and therefore would not be partaking in the Tokyo Olympics.
USA Track and Field stated they could not allow Richardson to move forward to the Tokyo Olympics to “maintain fairness for all of the athletes.”
“While USATF fully agrees that the merit of the World Anti-Doping Agency rules related to THC should be reevaluated, it would be detrimental to the integrity of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Track & Field if USATF amended its policies following competition, only weeks before the Olympic Games.”
Speaking with NBC, Richardson attributed the positive test to her use of marijuana as a way to cope with the unexpected death of her biological mother while she was in Oregon for the Olympic trials.
Richardson, who was raised by her grandmother, said that she learned about her mother’s recent death from a reporter during an interview in a triggering and “definitely nerve-shocking” experience.