Sha'Carri Richardson

Sha'Carri Richardson, born on March 25, 2000, is an exceptional American sprinter known for her prowess in the 100 metres and 200 metres events. She first gained national attention in 2019 while competing as a freshman at Louisiana State University, where she shattered the collegiate record in the 100 m at the NCAA Division I Championships with an impressive time of 10.75 seconds. This remarkable achievement positioned her among the ten fastest women in history at just 19 years old.

In April 2021, Richardson further solidified her status as a top athlete by clocking a personal best of 10.72 seconds, making her the sixth-fastest woman of all time at that moment and the fourth-fastest American woman in history. Her stellar performance at the United States Olympic Trials, where she won the women's 100-metre dash in 10.86 seconds, earned her a spot at the 2020 Summer Olympics. However, her Olympic journey faced a setback when she tested positive for cannabis, leading to a one-month suspension.

After completing a counseling program, Richardson returned to competition and showcased her resilience by winning the US national championship in the women's 100 metres in July 2023, with a time of 10.82 seconds. Her triumphant return continued as she clinched gold at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, setting a new championship record of 10.65 seconds in the 100 m, defeating renowned competitors Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

On the penultimate day of the championships, she also contributed to Team USA's success by winning gold in the women's 4 × 100 m relay final, achieving a championship record of 41.03 seconds. Continuing her impressive streak, Richardson defended her title as the US national champion in the 100-metre sprint on June 22, 2024, with a winning time of 10.71 seconds, which also qualified her for the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where she ultimately secured a silver medal in the 100 m and gold in the 4 × 100 relay.