One of the hottest phenoms in track today is Sha’Carri Richardson. Richardson, a former member of the track team at Louisiana State University, is arguably one of the best sprinters in the world. She competes in the 100-meter, 200 meter, and 4 x 100-meter relays. Richardson is known for her amazing speed, tough competitive spirit and signature bright neon hair of various colors. These traits have led to many comparisons to Florence Griffith Joyner, arguably the greatest sprinter of all time. She has also garnered attention for her cockiness, often predicting the outcome of races. Her recent suspension by the United States Anti-Doping Agency for a month after failing a mandatory drug test has once again thrust her into the limelight. Although she accepted her suspension on June 28th, she could have been cleared to run in the 4X100 meter relay, which occurs toward the end of the Olympics. Richardson, however, was not chosen for the relay team. The suspension has ended her hopes of participating in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. While her personal style is often then focus of positive and negative discussion and debate, Richardson’s athletic ability has elevated her to the heights of track and field.
Richardson was born in Dallas Texas in 2000. Her mother Shayaria Richardson recently died. She was raised by her grandmother. Richardson burst on the track and field scene in 2019 by running 10.75 seconds in the 100 meter race at the National Athletic Association ( NCAA) Championships. She broke the record at the event. This record made her one of the fastest women in the world. Richardson was 19 years at the time.
Prior to her college career, Richardson made her mark in track and field. In 2016 and 2017, she won track titles at significant events. In 2016, she won the 100-meter title at the AAU Junior Olympics. In 2017, she won another title at the USA Track and Field Junior Championships. She went on to win a gold medal in the 4 x 100-meter relay at the 2017 Pan American U20 Championships. After enrolling at LSU, she joined the LSU Lady Tigers. She was a finalist in the 60- meter and 200-meter at the 2019 NCAA Division. 1 Indoor Track and Field Championships. She is currently the Junior Record Holder—100 Meters (10.75); Junior World Record Holder—200 Meters (22.17); Collegiate Record Holder—100 Meters (10.75); 4x All-American (60m, 100m, 200m, 200m, outdoors, 4X100m relay) and 3X SEC Champion (100m, 200m outdoors, 4X100m relay).
Richardson left LSU in 2019 and turned professional in 2020. She qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics in the 100-meter during the 2021 United States Olympic Trials. She was declared ineligible for the games due to a positive THC test. Richardson explained the positive test as a reaction to the death of her mother. She went on to remark: This is just one games. I’m 21. I am very young…I have plenty of games left in me to compete in and I have plenty talent that backs me up, because everything I do comes from me naturally. No steroid no anything.” Richardson also made a prediction: “I’ll be back and able to compete every time I step on the track, I’ll be ready to for whatever anti-doping agency to come and get what it is they need.”