Four years ago, Sha’Carri Richardson stormed into the top of the world over 100 meters. At the World Championships in Budapest, she wins her first major title. In between there is a challenging time for the 23-year-old American – which she always gives insight into.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is doing everything she can to become the fastest woman in the world for the third time in a row and sixth time overall. But the 1.52 meter tall Jamaican, nicknamed “Mommy Rocket”, stretches in vain in the 100 meter final in Budapest. Sha’Carri Richardson stormed past all her competitors on the flank and crossed the finish line in 10.65 seconds. The fastest time ever at a World Athletics Championships and, more importantly, the first major title for the American.
“All the superstars did their best, which helped me to get the maximum out of it,” Richardson says afterwards: “I’m standing here next to living legends. It feels great.” Silver and bronze go to Jamaica, to Shericka Jackson (10.72) and defending champion Fraser-Pryce (10.77), who triumphed for the first time in Berlin in 2009. After a season marked by injury problems, the 36-year-old is delighted with third place and describes winning the medal as “a real joy”.
Richardson, on the other hand, is brief in her initial reaction to the win, which tells an extraordinary story: “I’m here. I’m the world champion. I told you all. I’m not behind, I’m better.” According to the US broadcaster ESPN, the 23-year-old has been surrounded by the last two sentences for the entire season – and even if Richardson does not want to talk about a comeback, the new 100-meter queen has a story of a rapid rise, one deep falls and a return to the top of the world.
“I seek no excuses and no pity”
In 2019, she made international headlines for the first time at the US College Championships: as a 19-year-old, she sprinted to ninth place in the all-time world best list in 10.75 seconds. Immediately thereafter, Richardson finished her time at Louisiana State University to turn pro. The 2020 season falls largely flat due to the corona pandemic, in 2021 Richardson wins the trials, the US eliminations in the run-up to the Olympic Games – and is then excluded from the team for Tokyo. During a doping test during the elimination competitions, her marijuana consumption was proven.
The sprinter then confesses to using the drug to cope with the unexpected death of her biological mother. A journalist informed her shortly before the trials: “Receiving this message from a stranger,” Richardson said, “shocked me deeply.” She was aware of the serious breach of the rules, she explained at the time: “I know what I can and cannot do and I still made this decision. I’m not looking for excuses and I’m not looking for sympathy either.” In any case, Richardson is open about mental challenges.
Shortly before the World Cup in Budapest, she even reported in an interview about a suicide attempt when she was in high school. And explains it like this: “The lack of attachment to my biological mother during the phase in which I got older,” says the 23-year-old in a video that spreads across social media. “I think that really hit me,” she says, giving an insight into the feelings that being cast out triggered in her – and that “brought her to a very dark place”. It was then her aunt who helped her to work her way out of this hole.
From lane 9 to victory
In 2022 she shines again with fast times, but blunders at the US championships and misses the finals over 100 and 200 meters. The World Championships in Eugene/Oregon will take place without Richardson, who also draws attention to herself visually with unusual hairstyles and hair colors as well as colorful long fingernails. In Budapest she finally manages to bring everything together at the crucial moment.
In the semi-finals, she was third and missed the direct qualification for the finals, only progressing one round due to the time rule. That’s why she has to contest the final from outer lane 9, while the supposed favorites are on the middle lanes. Perhaps it’s that remoteness on the wing that inspires Richardson. From there, the American can hardly see what is happening further inside. She can run her own race. Concentrate fully on your own performance.
And so it is Richardson who spreads his arms just after the finish line. She looks in disbelief at the scoreboard, on which the 1 appears next to her name. World champion. gasping. Then the show. Because she masters it perfectly. Just like her counterpart Noah Lyles, the men’s champion. He’s also a guy with a sad story. Both are good for satisfying the longing for new superstars in athletics. Richardson delivered impressively. With the fastest time in the history of the World Cup, as a newcomer against competitors who, according to the “Associated Press”, had already won a total of 38 medals at the Olympic Games and World Championships. The (temporary) climax of an extraordinary story.