The Fastest Woman in the World Was Not Always at the Top – Sha’Carri Richardson’s Transformation in 40 Pics

Labeled as a “once-in-a-generation talent,” Sha’Carri Richardson’s remarkable success as an athlete has been overshadowed by a scandal that plunged her into a dark period. Faced with personal loss, she chose to cope in her own way, which unfortunately backfired.

Track star Sha’Carri Richardson is a sprinter specializing in the Women’s 100m and Women’s 4x100m Relay. She was ranked No. 1 in the 100m race in 2023 and has since become a fan-favorite despite challenges, one of which set her back once, causing a controversy.

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From her ascent to superstardom and navigating scandalous career setbacks to enduring personal loss, here is Richardson’s inspiring journey that has molded her into the person she is today.

Richardson’s Family Are Her Biggest Supporters – Her Aunt Is a Track Star Herself

When Richardson claimed the 2023 World Champion 100m gold medal, she donated it to people who raised her and promised to never leave her side when she was a child.

However, the athlete is very guarded when it comes to her personal life which has been deemed off-limits. Growing up, she was raised by her grandmother, Betty Harp, whom she refers to as “Big Momma.”

Richardson has often praised her grandparent, sharing that she played a crucial role in shaping who she is today. In a joint interview, Harp affirmed this, saying she made her granddaughter “tough.”

Describing herself as a strong woman who has overcome many obstacles, Harp explained that her experiences enabled her to prevent Richardson from giving up when facing challenges.

According to Harp, her grandchild has considered quitting whenever things become difficult for her. She would then tell her not to start anything if she did not plan on finishing it. “[…] Whatever happens, you keep going, you hear?’” she recalled.

The athlete agreed with her grandmother’s assessment of her influence. “Everything I am, it’s because of that strong, wise Black woman. Everything,” Richardson divulged, adding Harp is the foundation of her success.

Besides the strong support system from loved ones, athleticism runs in her family. The sportswoman discovered her love for athletics when she was only nine years old. It is all thanks to her aunt, Shayaria Richardson, another family track star, who served as her first trainer at the time.

When Richardson realized how fast she could run, she decided to challenge her aunt by racing up the street in the South Dallas neighborhood where they resided at the time.

The sports star recounted that memorable experience in a 2024 interview. “We’d go from the bottom of the hill to Big Momma’s car. And she didn’t slow down, she didn’t let me win. And I think it was in fifth grade, the day I touched the car first. And that’s when I knew,” Richardson revealed.

She also credits her aunt, whom she refers to as “Mom,” for guiding her throughout her career. However, Richardson’s relatives are not the only ones who played pivotal roles in her running career.

At 14 years old, the future Olympian started working with the girls track coach, Lauren Cross at Carter High School. Cross remembered how impressed she was by Richardson’s abilities on the field.

“People would say – that little girl, she’s running so fast? To be that good that young you realize as a coach that you’re dealing with someone exceptional,” said the coach. She explained that Richardson’s self-discipline was what set her apart from others.

“Sha’Carri was totally determined. She had passion, she had brains, she was the whole package,” the proud coach, whom Richardson refers to as her “godmother,” expressed.

Cross, who has also absorbed her trainee into her extended family, revealed she often had to tell Richardson to go easy on herself. The track star pressurized herself so much that Cross had to remind her that one mistake did not define who she was nor the outcome of her efforts.

Richardson’s Rise to Success in 2018

Richardson graduated from high school in 2018 and was considered the number-one-ranked female sprint recruit in the US by then. During her first year at Louisiana State University, she impressively broke the 100-meter collegiate record.

She clocked a 10.75 finish for the NCCA title, making her one of the fastest women in history. The medalist only attended the school for a year, as she went pro in 2019, signing with Nike and commencing her training under Daniel Mitchell. He described her as “a once-in-a-generation talent.”

“Running that fast, it’s not normal – not for anyone. […] One aspect of Sha’Carri’s talent is that when you tell her, ‘do this,’ she understands how to apply the change. She’s very in tune with her body,” Mitchell added.

Richardson first captured the world’s attention after making headlines for winning the women’s 100-meter at the 2020 US Olympic trials. She won many hearts because of her confidence.

In her post-race interview, she proclaimed, “I just want the world to know that I’m THAT girl.” That is a moniker she has lived up to since, and at age 21, the famed athlete was considered the sixth fastest women in the world.

Richardson in 2019

One of Richardson’s notable races was when she competed in the 200-meter preliminaries during the Division I Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships in June 2019.

A month later, the World Champion participated in the opening round of the 100-meter during the USATF Outdoor Championships held in Des Moines, Iowa.

Known for her unique style consisting of long nails and colorful hair on the track, Richardson shared a picture of herself online wearing a long dress with darker hair in December of that year. She wrote, “Primetime chick she the type to get chose.”

Richardson’s Scandalous Setback in 2021

Put forward as the gold medal favorite for the COVID-19-delayed Tokyo Olympics two years later in 2021, the athlete hit rock bottom. Her biological mother, Shayaria, sadly died a week before the 2020 US Olympic Track and Field Trials.

Unfortunately, Richardson learned about her mom’s death through a news reporter at the time, leading her into a downward spiral. She explained that she turned to marijuana to cope with “emotional panic.”

Consequently, this affected her chance to partake in the Olympics. The Texas native faced a one-month suspension from the USA Track and Field team after she tested positive for THC, a toxicant found in marijuana.

In the aftermath, the athlete spoke out, admitting to her faults. “I want to take responsibility for my actions. I know what I did, I know what I’m supposed to do … and I still made that decision,” Richardson reflected.

“Don’t judge me, because I am human…I just happen to run a little faster,” she said during an exclusive interview amid the failed drug test reports.

Richardson also took to X (formerly known as Twitter), and apologized to those who looked forward to her participation in the Olympics. “I’m sorry, I can’t be ya’ll Olympic Champ this year but I promise I’ll be your World Champ next year,” she tweeted.

The sprinter also expressed her frustrations following her suspension, writing, “All these perfect people that know how to live life, I’m glad I’m not one of them!”

Touching on her mother’s death, she explained that she was not making an excuse for her actions nor was she looking for empathy. The circumstances weighed heavily on her. That said, her parent’s demise was “triggering” and finding out about it sent her into “a state of emotional panic,” said Richardson.

Despite the tragedy, she strived to pursue her dreams to make her loved ones proud. Richardson shared that when people see her on the track, they only see her poker face, adding except for her family and her coach, they do not realize what she goes through daily.

Therefore, she is thankful for them and stated that without them, she would not be who she is today. “Without my grandmother, there would be no Sha’Carri Richardson. So, my family is my everything. My everything until the day I’m done,” said the track star.

Richardson in 2022

Despite the setback, Richardson continued to soldier on. In April 2022, she posted short clips showing her happy self online and after missing the Tokyo Olympics, she returned to the track. In May 2022, she competed at the Women’s 100m during the Wanda Diamond League Prefontaine Classic and came second.

The following month, the athlete finally gained victory when she won the Women’s 200 meter during the New York Grand Pix held in Icahn Stadium.

In yet another sporting event from that same year, Richardson participated in the Women’s 100m during the Weltklasse Zurich, part of the 2022 Diamond League series in Switzerland.

Richardson Made History in 2023

Richardson achieved a historic win by clinching the gold medal in the 100m race at the World Championships in 2023. This marked a significant comeback two years post her marijuana test.

Then 23, the sportswoman’s victory was clocked at 10.65 seconds, beating Jamaicans Shericka Jackson and five-time world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Her win underscores her mantra, “I’m not back. I’m better,” a phrase she reiterated after this remarkable achievement.

Reflecting on her journey, Richardson emphasized resilience and support, advising, “Never give up.” She urged others to let their inner belief and faith define them, rather than external opinions. “Always fight. No matter what, fight,” she declared.

Her victory was in a fiercely competitive field, featuring four of the eight fastest sprinters in history. She showcased her tenacity, especially in the so-called “Semifinal of Death.”

The sports star raced against Jackson and Marie-Josée Ta Lou, who are ranked fifth and eighth all-time. Only the top two finishers in this semifinal were assured a place in the final.

Despite a poor start in the semifinal, Richardson rallied from seventh place to finish third with a time of 10.84 seconds, the fastest among non-qualifiers, which secured her spot in the final.

Seventy minutes later, she was at the starting line for the gold-medal sprint in Lane 9, a challenging position as it prevents tracking other contenders. Nevertheless, her slow start didn’t deter her.

The race quickly became a contest between her and Jackson. Jackson, unable to see Richardson’s progress from her outer lane, looked at the scoreboard expecting a win. Richardson, however, triumphed by 0.07 seconds over Jackson, 0.12 seconds over Fraser-Pryce, and 0.16 seconds over Ta Lou.

Her time of 10.65 seconds set a World Championships record, although Florence Griffith-Joyner’s 35-year-old world record of 10.49 seconds still stands. Richardson’s time tied Jackson’s for the best time in the world.

Despite a head-to-head 2-0 record against Jackson this period, she was considered a 5-1 underdog in this race. This was partly due to her inexperience at world championships compared to a field that had collected 38 Olympic and world-championship medals.

After crossing the finish line, Richardson appeared stunned. She blew a kiss to the sky, glanced at the scoreboard, and walked in a daze toward the stands to accept the American flag and congratulations from Fraser-Pryce, Dina Asher-Smith, and others.

“All the heavy hitters brought their ‘A’ game, which helped me bring out my best ‘A’ game as well,” Richardson said. “Being next to living legends feels remarkable.”

Richardson at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Richardson, who initially qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with the fastest 100m time at the U.S. trials, is now competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

In her Olympic debut, the beloved sprinter dominated Round 1 of the women’s 100m race, securing an easy win in her heat. She soared to victory with a time of 10.94 seconds, advancing to the semifinal round of the women’s 100m at the Paris Olympic Games.

Her performance at the sporting event continues to build on her impressive track record. As the competition intensified, Richardson remained focused on her goal of achieving Olympic glory and making history as one of America’s fastest women.

The world-famous athlete’s journey through the heats has demonstrated her readiness and resilience, setting the stage for a thrilling semifinal showdown.

With her eyes on the prize, Richardson’s Olympic debut marked a significant milestone in her career and a moment of pride for her supporters. She comfortably secured her place in the semifinals of the 100m sprint.

Joining her in the 100m preliminaries were fellow Americans Melissa Jefferson and Twanisha Terry, adding to the strong U.S. representation in the event.

Richardson won a silver medal in the 100m final, coming second to Julien Alfred. Sha’Carri Richardson’s determination and skill have solidified her status as a standout athlete.