The journey of Sha’Carri Richardson just took a turn but it’s a good one. The lightening fast sprinter took the silver medal in the 100-meter race at the Paris Olympics.
This feat comes three years after missing the Tokyo Games due to a positive marijuana test. Still wild how that happened to her.
As everyone would imagine there were high expectations for Richardson. But no gold medal in the 100 meter. Instead, Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred won the top prize with a time of 10.72 seconds.
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Get this the “W” earned Alfred’s island nation their first Olympic medal.
Let that sink in. That was their FIRST Olympic medal, ever. Wow. Flowers to Julien. All the flowers.
But slow down, Richardson finished second in 10.87 seconds after a not so hot start that put her at a disadvantage early in the race. Listen, it happens.
Following the surprising race, Richardson briefly spoke to a reporter who mispronounced her name, correcting them with, “It’s Sha’Carri.” Can you blame her?
As one of the more standout athletes in the Paris Olympics, Richardson faced immense pressure. Some would say pressure rarely experienced by any athlete not named Simone Biles or LeBron James, although the later is the oldest player in the NBA but still.
When you add non stop media coverage and major endorsements from brands like Nike and Sprite, Richardson had quite literally the world on her shoulders.
Richardson’s track to the Olympics, pun intended, has been rocky. She has experienced highs and lows, from being one of the fastest women in the world to facing suspension and criticism. Super heavy for anyone to have to endure, even a major athlete such as Richardson.
But after that suspension, she returned to competition in August 2021, she finished last in a race that featured many of the women she would have faced in Tokyo. Despite all this adversity, Richardson remained defiant, stating, “Count me out if you want to. Talk all the s— you want. Because I’m here to stay. I’m not done. I’m the sixth-fastest woman in this game ever. Can’t nobody ever take that from me.”
It’s not over for Sha’Carri Richardson. But maybe the real story is it’s just beginning for Julien Alfred.