In a relatively short career filled with both triumphs and setbacks, Sha’Carri Richardson has been a polarizing figure in the world of track and field. Her supporters have consistently seen her as an authentic and electrifying performer, while her detractors have criticized her for being overly audacious given her relatively limited global achievements. However, following her remarkable performance on Monday, it’s safe to say that both her supporters and critics must now acknowledge one undeniable fact: Sha’Carri Richardson is the fastest woman in the world.
In the culmination of a roller-coaster three years, Richardson sprinted past two formidable Jamaican rivals and clinched victory in the 100 meters at the world championships in Budapest. Richardson narrowly edged out Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, crossing the finish line in 10.65 seconds – the fastest race of her life, setting a world championships record, and a time that only four women in history have ever surpassed.
Running in Lane 9 after barely making it to the final, Richardson exploded out of the starting blocks. She remained neck and neck with Jackson, who had won silver at the 2022 world championships, at the midway point. With just 30 meters left, she managed to create a slight gap between herself and Jackson, who, from her inside lane, could barely see Richardson inching past her. As she crossed the finish line, Richardson spread her arms wide, seemingly poised for flight.
After coming to a stop, she gazed up at the clock and emitted excited cheers. As the realization of her victory sank in, she screamed with joy and bounded down the track, wearing an infectious smile and making eye contact with the crowd.
Richardson draped herself in the American flag and took a celebratory lap with Jackson and Fraser-Pryce. Previously, she had watched them accumulate medals from a distance, unable to compete in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 due to a suspension and failing to qualify for the 2022 world championships. Now, she stood as their equal.
Although Richardson is only 23 years old, her career has already unfolded as a series of dramatic episodes. She turned professional in 2019, propelled by her rapid improvement at LSU, where she became the collegiate record holder and joined the ranks of the world’s elite sprinters.
In 2021, her captivating performance at the U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, instantly catapulted her to stardom. On national television, with Americans glued to their screens during the pandemic, Richardson surged to victory in the 100 meters with a flowing orange wig and distinctive talon-like fingernail extensions, a style reminiscent of her idol, Florence Griffith Joyner. She boldly declared on the track, “I am that girl,” before climbing into the Hayward Field stands to embrace her grandmother, the woman who had raised her. During the competition, she revealed that she had recently discovered her biological mother had passed away.
Richardson had been poised to become one of the most prominent American stars at the Tokyo Games. However, shortly after the trials, she tested positive for marijuana, which she explained she had used to cope with the news of her mother’s death while in Oregon for the trials. The suspension, widely seen as harsh for a drug that is widely legal for recreational use in the United States, kept her out of the Olympics.
Struggling to cope with sudden fame and public scrutiny, Richardson found it challenging to regain her footing. Her first race back resulted in a last-place finish. She aimed to make a comeback at the world championships in Eugene but faced disappointment at the national championships, where she finished a heat in 11.31 seconds, failing to advance past the opening qualifying round.
Over the past few months, however, Richardson showed steady signs of progress. In April, she clocked a wind-aided 10.57 seconds. She secured a victory at a Diamond League meet in May and continued to win every race she entered.
Just a month ago, in a preliminary heat at the national championships, she recorded a personal best time of 10.71 seconds, making her the seventh-fastest woman in history. In the final, she wore one of her signature wigs, this time fiery orange, at the starting line. When her name was announced, Richardson removed the wig, revealing braids that cascaded down her back, and tossed it onto the track. She then dominated the field, crossing the finish line in 10.82 seconds and proclaiming, “I’m not back; I’m better.”
Richardson has retained the charisma that initially made her a star. In the opening qualifying round on Sunday, she outpaced the competition and theatrically wiped sweat from her brow as she crossed the finish line.
However, in Monday’s semifinal, where only the top two runners from each heat automatically advanced, Richardson had a shaky start, seemingly late off the blocks. Her incredible speed allowed her to catch and pass all but Jackson and Marie-Josée Ta Lou of Ivory Coast. She anxiously awaited the results to see if she would qualify based on time, and ultimately, her 10.84-second finish secured her a spot in the final.
In the final, Richardson’s strong start ensured that her elite top-end speed would give her a fighting chance to win. She raced faster than ever before, solidifying her status as the best in the world. Sha’Carri Richardson has not just returned; she has returned stronger than ever.