“I’m not back, I’m better,” inspiring words spoken by the incomparable, world champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Sha’Carri Richardson. Sha’Carri made history when she won the women’s 100-meter title at World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August 2023.
On March 25, 2000, Sha’Carri Richardson was born in Dallas, Texas, to mother Shayaria Richardson. Sha’Carri was primarily raised by her grandmother Betty Harp. Sha’Carri’s early life was shaped and influenced by the strong women in her family, namely her grandmother and supportive aunt, who instilled principles and values of hard work, determination, and resilience. These values would carry Sha’Carri through the ebbs and flow of her flourishing athletic career.
At the age of 16, Sha’Carri competed in her first official racing competition at the US Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympics where she took home first place in her age group in 2016. While competing at a national level, she continued to run for her high school (Carter High School) further developing her impressive skills.
In 2017, she went on to win the USA Track & Field (USATF) Junior Championships and also helped Team USA win the 4×10-meter relay gold at the Pan American U20 Championships. It was at this time that the young athlete began to draw the attention of various potential universities.
In 2018, Sha’Carri matriculated to Louisiana State University (LSU) where she continued to train in the sport and proved herself to be a great team asset. In 2019, the rising star athlete really hit her stride at the NCAA Track and Field Championships. The 19 year old took home gold and broke the 30 year old NCAA 100-meter record, and the U-20 world record. After competing for only a year on the collegiate level, she was offered a professional contract.
In 2020, Sha’Carri’s journey to the Summer Olympics began with a setback. Although she had qualified to compete and was perceived as a potential medalist, a routine drug test revealed traces of cannabis in her system. The revelation lead to her disqualification and a one month suspension from Team USA.
After the disappointment of the 2020 Summer Olympics, the track star set her sights on future Olympic events. In April 2021, Sha’Carri made headlines for all the right reasons. Competing against some of the best sprinters in the world, she clocked an astonishing time of 10.72 seconds in the 100 meters. This wasn’t just a personal best for Richardson; it positioned her as the sixth fastest woman in the history of the sport. The athletic community and fans worldwide lauded her achievement, and she was hailed as the next big thing in track and field.
In August 2023, at World Championships held in Budapest, Hungary, she delivered a performance for the ages. Racing against the best in the world, she was triumphant in defeating her opponents and winning 1st place for gold medal in the Women’s 100 meter title, while setting a new championship record with a stunning time of 10.65 seconds. This victory was a statement of her impenetrable spirit, solidifying her place as the fastest woman in the world.
HONORS:
- In 2019, while at Louisiana State University, she broke the 100 m collegiate record at the NCAA Division I Championships with a time of 10.75 seconds.
- In April 2021, she ran a personal best of 10.72 seconds, becoming the sixth fastest woman of all time at that point.
- She qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics after winning the women’s 100-meter dash with 10.86 in the United States Olympic Trials.
- In July 2023, she became the US national champion in the women’s 100 meters at the 2023 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a time of 10.82 seconds.
- Richardson won gold in the 100 m at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest with a new championships record time of 10.65 seconds. She also won gold as part of Team USA in the women’s 4x100m relay at the same championships with a record time of 41.03 seconds.
QUOTES:
“I’m not back, I’m better.”
“It’s not the end of the world and if you choose to count me out, the joke’s on you.”
“My passion will always come out for my love for what it is I put my blood, sweat, tears and sacrifice into.”
“I’m highly blessed and grateful… My family is my everything. My everything until the day I’m done.”
“This journey for me, from since I first came on the professional level [in 2019] to now is just knowing that no matter what happens, you never lose sight of yourself.”
“I’m a warrior.”
“Never lose sight of your faith. Always remember why you started.”
“I wanted my performance to be all the words I needed to speak myself.”
“It feels amazing, it feels like everything has paid off and I’m grateful.”
“I just say don’t judge me because I am human. I’m you, I just happen to run a little faster.”
SOURCES:
https://olympics.com/en/athletes/sha-carri-richardson
nationaltoday.com/birthday/shacarri-richardson
https://www.usatf.org/athlete-bios/sha-carri-richardson
https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/shacarri-richardson-14717691
southwestjournal.com/shacarri-richardson-biography
https://olympics.com/en/news/shacarri-richardson-how-the-100m-world-champion-reinvented-herself
CREDITS:
Recreate Model: Cyrah Hardy
Photographer & Editor of Recreated Photo: Jasmine Mallory
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