“I’m a Bentley,” Sha’Carri Richardson boasts in Sprint, the Netflix series that takes a close look at some of the top track athletes in the world. “Fast, expensive … fancy.” Her comment reveals a surprising lack of knowledge about cars.
Bentleys emphasize refinement. Their luxury does not overwhelm. The speed is quiet. They’re impressive without being flashy. In contrast, Richardson embodies a Lamborghini: notably fast, but with a tendency to be noisy and prone to losing control. However, this latest iteration of Richardson appears significantly more polished in preparation for her Olympic debut on Friday, marking a chance for redemption.
As one of the most recognizable athletes globally, the 24-year-old Richardson has somehow managed to maintain a surprisingly low profile. She still sports her distinctive body art and acrylic nails, reminiscent of legendary US sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner, but her vibrant, colorful wigs have transitioned to more understated styles. Throughout it all, she remains a prominent figure in NBC’s promotional efforts in the US and in advertisements for Olay and Oikos.
For those who may have lost track of Richardson’s journey, just three years ago she experienced one of the most dramatic rises and setbacks in US sports history. Shortly after winning the 100m at the 2021 US Olympic trials, Richardson tested positive for THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis — a substance that, while legal in Oregon, has been banned in the Olympics since 1999.
Richardson explained that she used cannabis to cope with the stress of attempting to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics while grieving the death of her biological mother — news she learned during a pre-race interview. Family connections are complex for Richardson; she reportedly does not claim relationships with either of her parents. In the Netflix series Sprint, Richardson’s aunt Shayaria is referred to as “Sha’Carri’s mom.” After her impressive performance at the 2021 US trials, Richardson rushed to her grandmother Betty Harp, whom she credits with shaping her as a person in Vogue.
In an effort to manage the fallout from the 2021 US trials, Richardson appeared on NBC’s Today Show, showcasing how ill-prepared her public relations team was. They didn’t even change the battery in a beeping smoke alarm at her home, nor did they ensure the interview was well-produced, leaving her looking as unflattering as many do on Zoom calls. They also allowed her to stand for the entire interview, which led to her fidgeting excessively, distracting from the pain in her voice as she discussed her month-long suspension close to the Games.
Moreover, she dismissed the positive test as inconsequential in the grand scheme, referring to herself in the third person. “When it comes to Sha’Carri Richardson, it’s never been a steroid. It will never be a steroid attached to the name Sha’Carri Richardson,” she stated. “The charge and the situation involved marijuana. I’m not encouraging anyone to do it. I’m not saying, Oh, don’t do it or anything like that. But if you choose to engage in personal activities like that, you should be aware of the consequences or find alternative ways to cope.”
A year after that interview, Richardson tweeted: “I wish I never did this.”
Richardson’s tendency to keep discussing her situation only made it easier for critics to portray her as acting “ghetto” and to also scrutinize her interactions with reporters, which in turn allowed USA Track and Field to exclude her from the 4x100m Olympic relay team despite her suspension ending beforehand. For Black American fans who were familiar with the IOC’s perceived injustices and the US’s more lenient views on marijuana, Richardson became a symbol of systemic inequality — and she eventually accused the IOC of racial discrimination.
However, perhaps Richardson’s most significant miscalculation was confronting the formidable Jamaican track and field team, who had just dominated the podium at the Tokyo Games. When Richardson finally competed against them at the 2021 Diamond League’s Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, the same venue where she qualified for Tokyo, she finished in last place, watching them overtake her (though she still engaged in smack talk). Her performance did not improve much from that point onward.
Yet in 2023, Richardson returned as a transformed athlete, taking long breaks from social media to refocus on her training. She launched the season by achieving the fourth-fastest women’s 100m time (with some assistance from a strong tailwind) to clinch victory at the Miramar Invitational. A month later in Doha, she set a meet record in the 100m and secured her first Diamond League title. Later that summer, at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Richardson captured her first gold medals in both the 100m and the 4x100m. Over the last 18 months, she has proven to be one of the most consistently top-performing athletes on the track; she even expanded her skill set by adding the 200m to her repertoire, showcasing her ability to compete effectively at twice her typical distance despite a tendency to start slowly from the blocks.
Although she narrowly missed qualifying for the Paris Olympics in the 200m, where American athlete Gabby Thomas reigns supreme, Richardson triumphed effortlessly in the 100m at this summer’s US Olympic Trials with a world-class time. What has truly stood out is her ability to transition seamlessly from a competitive mindset, ready to outpace her rivals, to displaying kindness and support towards them afterward. She has made herself a favorite once more, garnering admiration even from Jamaican fans who once celebrated her downfall.
However, some of this newfound admiration may stem from trepidation: Jamaica’s Olympic 100m champion, Elaine Thompson-Herah, was ruled out of the Games due to an Achilles injury that NBC analyst Ato Boldon believes will end her career. Meanwhile, Shericka Jackson, who has only improved since her bronze finish in the Tokyo 100m, withdrew from the Paris 100m on Wednesday to focus on the 200m.
This leaves Richardson as the overwhelming favorite heading into this weekend’s final. “In the past three years, I’ve developed a better understanding of myself, along with a deeper respect for the gift I possess in this sport, as well as the responsibility I hold to those who believe in me and support me,” Richardson expressed to reporters after securing her spot for Paris. There’s a lot to appreciate about this new and refined version of herself.
