Sha’Carri Richardson set the tone for her own comeback tale a year ago when she won the US 100m gold, followed by the World Championship, and boldly said, “I’m not back, I’m better.”
With her first Olympics approaching, new questions arise: Is she still better than a field of the world’s fastest women? Can she withstand the pressure that comes with competing in the Olympics?
The 24-year-old Olympic 100m favorite has been upfront and honest about her journey to become a more appreciative, thoughtful version of herself. Her positive marijuana test at the 2021 US Olympic trials was an awful introduction to a world that knew little about her.
However, in the three years since her shocking fall and amazing comeback, she has provided little specifics about what transpired. She revealed details of her birth mother’s death and subsequent sadness.
All of the mystery, drama, and, eventually, triumph have made Richardson larger than life, leaving her devoted and expanding fan base demanding more. Some people on social media are interested in seeing what haircut and fingernails she will wear as she runs.
It has also elevated her beyond the status of celebrity sprinter. She is a young, prominent Black woman whose suspension has sparked debate about race, drugs, anti-doping standards, and an Olympic ecosphere that is still dominated (and reported on) by older, white men.
“It’s not my goal to be known,” Richardson stated. “But I don’t want to be recognized for just one thing. Nobody does. It’s critical for me to be the greatest person I can be in everything that matters to me, including family, community, and my work.”
Richardson is not the Simone Biles of these Olympics, but after gymnastics is gone and the focus shifts to the track, there will be no more captivating character.
“The entire world was caught up in the magic of who Sha’Carri is,” said Sanya Richards-Ross, an Olympic gold champion and track reporter for NBC. “And we’ve had a wonderful opportunity to watch her deal with all of that, and to mature and grow.”
