Olympic redemption for Sha’ Carri

Redemption. That is the best way to describe the ongoing Sha’Carri Richardson story. And everyone loves a comeback story. Barring any unforeseen disaster, Olympic glory is now here for the fashionable and charismatic Richardson. And she could not be more grateful.  

“Oh, man. It’s a full circle,” Richardson said after the race. “I’m grateful, appreciative of the direction that we’re headed towards and where we’ve come from and I’m super excited to continue to grow and and build from this momentum that we’ve established from here…the athletics that’s sweeping the Olympic Trials. It’s more than exciting, and I’m super excited to continue to go forward with my girls.”  

Banned from the 2021 Olympics (2020 Summer Olympics, which was delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic) after failing a drug test, Richardson has rebounded from that fiasco. 

Richardson busted through the tape at the finish line of the women’s 100 meters on Day 2 of the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials in 10.71 seconds, solidifying her status as the best in the world at that distance. 

After a stagnant start, Richardson turned on the jets and accelerated ahead of Melissa Jefferson and former USC Trojan Twanisha “Tee Tee” Terry to claim the top spot for the Americans. Jefferson finished second with a personal-best time of 10.80. Terry earned the third spot for Team USA with a time of 10.89. 

Jefferson and Terry talked about what it means to them to make the American team. Jefferson, whose previous best time in the 100 was 10.82, talked about her success as a runner at Hayward Field where the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials are being held.   

“Hayward is always good to me the second time around,” Jefferson said. “Pre-Fontaine, you know, I had a pretty good race. It wasn’t one of my best races, but I was able to go back home, train with these lovely ladies and, you know, fix the things I needed to work on. And as you can see, it’s paying off. You know, every time I come to Hayward, it’s always in a championship setting. So I know it’s time to show up and show out. And that’s what I did today.”   

Terry failed to make the American team in the 100 in 2021, but she was not to be denied this time around. 

“Honestly, in 2021, I was still at USC. I was coming out of college. So that was a blur. I count this as my first Olympic Trials. I can’t remember what happened in 2021,” Terry said. “But you know, it was just a matter of trusting the process…trusting my coach, trusting my teammates.”

While the celebration of the American team being set in the 100 women’s meters, the bigger story is Richardson. Richardson was flying so fast down the track that she put herself on cruise control for the last 10 meters of the race, which may have cost her an opportunity to match her career best of 10.57.  

That doesn’t matter to Richardson or anyone else. Her comeback story is complete. Richardson re-established herself as the runner to beat in the 100 meters when she claimed the world championship in that race in 2023. 

Her win in the women’s 100 meters at the U.S. track and field Olympic Trials now sets up Richardson with the chance to earn an Olympic gold medal, something she cost herself a couple of years ago. 

Yes, Sha’Carri is back. No, she’s better. There’s also a dose of reality that snuck in on an emotional Richardson after she crossed the finish line in first place.    

“This time around I just feel as if it was more definitely still confident, still my exciting normal self, but more so overwhelmed with emotions of just joy because of the fact I know that the hard work that I put in, not just physically on the track, but mentally, emotionally to grow into the mature young lady I am today.”  

Richardson was the dominant force at the Olympic Trials three years ago, winning the 100 meters stunningly. However, her glory was short-lived and she was subsequently removed from the United States team and was forced to sit at home and watch the Summer Games. 

This time around things have come full circle for Richardson. 

Top Image Caption: Credit: USATF