She’s not just back – Sha’Carri Richardson is $20 million better
Written By: Jackie Rae
Trust the process. Enjoy the journey. It's not how you start; it's how you finish. Whatever mantra you feel means never giving up on your dream, Sha'Carri Richardson fully embodies that.
Richardson quickly became a fan favorite in track and field. In 2019, she gained national attention by breaking two World Athletics U20 records on the same day. During the NCAA outdoor championship, she won the 100-meter race with a time of 10.75, breaking a 42-year-old record set by Marlies Göhr. While she did not win the 200-meter race, her 22.17 time broke Allyson Felix's record set during the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Stealing the hearts of fans wasn't solely based on her athleticism. Her over-the-top style, with long nails, colorful hair, and long eyelashes, was very reminiscent of the late great Florence Griffith Joyner, also known as Flo-Jo.
Capitalizing on the moment and fandom, Richardson announced she was going pro. After a pandemic delay, in 2021, Richardson solidified her place by winning a dominant victory over Jamaica in the 100-meter race in the US Olympic Trials while also mourning the death of her biological mother.
While her star continued to rise, Richardson became her own worst enemy. By her admission, she turned to marijuana after her mother's death. That resulted in a 30-day suspension, which ruled her out of the individual 100-meter race at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Fans across the nation stood with her — pointing to the ongoing hypocrisy around the use of marijuana for professional athletes. But that support seemed to feed the beast. Richardson became brazen in her speech. Often boasting about her greatness and skirting personal responsibility for missing the Tokyo Olympics.
Her social media was soon filled with entitlement and trash talk. Anyone who has experienced grief probably understood she was putting on a brave face while her heart was breaking. But society is rarely self-reflective, and the tides of fandom quickly turned to condemnation.
When she finally had the chance to silence the naysayers during the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Richardson came in dead last in the 100 meters and withdrew from the 200 meters. The embarrassing display caused the fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt, to say Richardson should stop talking so much trash and just train.
It seemed as though Richardson's light had fizzled out, but the world had yet to see her fighting spirit. Running in the 2023 nationals, she threw off her iconic orange wig and took first place in the 100 meters, earning her a spot in the world championship.
With her strongest critics ready to pounce, Richardson made her world championships debut and defeated defending world champ Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica in the women's 100 meters with her best time of 10.65.
During her post-race interview, Richardson said, "Never allow media, never allow outsiders, never allow anything but yourself and your fate to define who you are. I would say always fight. No matter what. Fight."
If you have been following Richardson for any length of time on her social media, you've seen the transformation there as well. Richardson often flaunts both her natural and over-the-top beauty, effortlessly embracing and loving all sides of her personality. What you will also see from the fastest woman in the world is a Nike promo.
While doing a rope exercise, with her own mile-long braids and intensity in her eyes, Richardson is promoting Nike's collaboration with French luxury brand Jaquemus, and of course, she is the face. It is the first of many promotions, as Richardson recently signed a deal with Nike estimated to be worth $20 million over a five-year period.
We have witnessed the rise, the stumble, and the blossoming of true athletic greatness with Richardson. As she prepares for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, she has earned her spot and proven her mantra.
Sha'Cari Richardson - "I'm not back. I'm BETTER!"