By AFRO Staff
On Aug. 21 Sha’Carri Richardson gained her first official international title in the 100 meter dash. Richardson was an outlier in lane 9 at the 2023 World Track and Field Championships in Budapest, Hungary, where she was crowned queen of the race track.
“It’s always been my time, but now it’s my time to actually do it for myself and the people that felt like me, the people that look like me, and the people that know the truth about themselves as well. I represent those people,” said Richardson, in an interview with NBC after her win. “I’m not worried about the world anymore. I’ve seen the world be my friend, I’ve seen the world turn on me. At the end of the day, I’ve always been with me. God has always been with me. So being on this scale now-it’s my time.”
Richardson is the first woman ever to win gold in this event at the Olympics and world championships without placing top two in the semi-finals. Her victorious performance clocked in at a blazing 10.65 seconds, earning her the credence of the fastest woman alive. Richardson beat Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce of Jamaica, who warmly embraced her in a selfie after the big win.
The reaction to Richardson’s recent win was much different than the response she received after her devastating last place finish at the historic Prefontaine Classic in 2021, where she competed just one month after losing her mother.
It was there that she spoke prophetic words over herself about what would occur in her life and track career.
“This is one race. I’m not done. You know what I’m capable of,” Richardson said after the race in Eugene, Ore. “Count me out if you want to. Talk all the [expletive] you want, because I’m here to stay. I’m not done.”
Even though she was banned from competing in her specialty event at the postponed 2021 Olympic games in Tokyo for using marijuana to cope with her mother’s death, she returned triumphant in the 2023 season, winning the 100 meter dash at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships with a time of 10.82 seconds.
Her advice to those following in her footsteps are simple, “I would say whatever you choose to do for yourself, make sure it benefits you, make sure it makes you happy, make sure you know that you got you despite anybody else,” the athlete said on an Instagram live.
Richardson was placed on a world stage at a young age. She started a legendary career as a standout freshman on the Louisiana State University’s (LSU) track and field team. There, she was under the direction of coach Dennis Shaver. While at LSU Richardson earned a national collegiate title after running 10.75 seconds in the 100 meter dash becoming the ninth fastest woman in history while still in her first year of college before turning professional.
However, after all of the attention, Richardson declared that she will not share much of her life after the world championships.
“I’m excited to go out there and share and explore. See what people. Just see what is for me,” Richardson shared on social media. “I am a champ. I am queen. I’m a goddess. I’m a Black woman. I am a woman.”
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