In April 2021, Richardson ran a new personal best of 10.72 seconds, becoming thesixth-fastest woman of all time (at the time) and the fourth-fastest American woman in history.[7] She qualified for the2020 Summer Olympics after winning the women's 100-metre dash with 10.86 in theUnited States Olympic Trials.[8] On July 1, it was reported that Richardson had tested positive forcannabis use following her 100 m final at the U.S. Trials, invalidating her win and making her ineligible to compete in the 100 m at the Olympics. After successfully completing a counseling program, she accepted a one-month period of ineligibility that began on June 28, 2021.[9] In July 2023, she became the US national champion in the women's 100 metres at the2023 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, running 10.82 seconds.[10]
Richardson won gold in the100 m at the2023 World Championships in Budapest, beatingShericka Jackson andShelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in a newchampionships record time of 10.65 seconds.[11] On the penultimate day of the2023 World Championships, she also won gold as part of Team USA in the women's 4 × 100 m relay final with a championship record of 41.03 seconds.[12] On June 22, 2024, Richardson defended her title as the US national champion in the 100-metre sprint event by winning the women's 100 m final in 10.71 seconds (WL),[13] qualifying for the2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, where she won the silver medal in the 100 m[14] and gold in the 4 × 100 relay.
Richardson was born inDallas, Texas.[15] She is of African-American descent. She was raised by her grandmother, Betty Harp, and an aunt.[16] She graduated fromCarter High School, where she ran track and won Texas state titles in the 100 m and 200 m.[17]
At the2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships, the 19-year-old completed the second-best female one-day double in history afterMerlene Ottey, breaking twoworld U20 records. She won the 100 m with a time of 10.75 s, setting a collegiate record and improvingMarlies Göhr's 42-year-old world U20 best. In the 200 m, she placed runner-up by less than one hundredth of a second in a time of 22.17 s, breakingAllyson Felix's record set at the2004 Athens Olympics. She also ran in the 4 × 100 m relay which finished second.[21][22]
Four days after the NCAA Championships, she announced she would forgo collegiate eligibility after her first year, and sign a professional contract.[23] She trains with former Olympic sprinterDennis Mitchell and is sponsored byNike.[24][25]
Richardson qualified for the2020 Summer Olympics with a 100-meter time of 10.77 seconds at the2020 United States Olympic Trials. It was 0.13 seconds faster thanJavianne Oliver, who finished second.[26] A urine sample that she submitted tested positive forTHC metabolites indicating recent cannabis use, which put her participation in the Olympics in doubt.[27][28] After successfully completing a counseling program, she accepted a one-month suspension by theUnited States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) that began on June 28, 2021.[9] While Richardson was ineligible for the Olympic 100 meters due to the suspension ending on July 27, 2021, she could have been eligible for thewomen's 4 × 100 relay scheduled for August 5, 2021. However, she was not selected, thereby missing the Olympics entirely.[29]
Richardson stated that she took the drug to cope with the pressure of qualifying for the Olympics while mourning the recent death of her biological mother.[30] Her suspension was criticized by many individuals and organizations in favor of liberalizing cannabis policies, includingNORML, members of theCongressional Cannabis Caucus, and other members of Congress.[31][32] U.S. PresidentJoe Biden also suggested that drug-testing rules governing athletes could be changed.[33] USADA responded to the criticism by pointing out that as a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code, it has an obligation to enforce it in the United States. Furthermore, they stated that changing those rules might be problematic, as the vast majority of the world's nation states consider consuming marijuana a criminal offense.[34] In response to the controversy, in September 2021, theWorld Anti-Doping Agency announced that it would conduct a review regarding the prohibited status of cannabis.[35] Cannabis has remained a prohibited drug for Olympic athletes since 1999, though in 2013 the World Anti-Doping Agency increased the level of THC metabolite allowed from 15 ng/mL to 150 ng/mL.[36]
Richardson wins the 100 m final at the 2023 World Championships
On April 8, 2023, she ran the fourth-fastest 100 m by a woman in all conditions, clocking 10.57 seconds with a strong,illegal 4.1 m/s tailwind to win the women's final at the Miramar Invitational. It converts to 10.77 s in still conditions.[38] In May 2023, she secured her firstDiamond League victory, winning the 100 m inDoha with a new meeting record of 10.76 s (+0.9 m/s).[39]
In July 2023, Richardson participated at the2023 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. On July 7, 2023, Richardson became the US national champion in the 100-metre sprint event by winning the women's 100 m final in 10.82 seconds, qualifying for the2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.[10] On the third day of the2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, she won her first major individual title on the international stage, winning gold in the women's 100-metre sprint event in a championship record of 10.65 seconds.[40] On August 25, 2023, she won bronze in the women's 200 m final in 21.92 seconds, finishing behind USA teammateGabrielle Thomas (21.81), and defending women's 200 m world championShericka Jackson (21:41CR).[41] She would also go on to win gold as part of Team USA in the women's 4 × 100 m relay final with a championship record of 41.03 seconds. Her relay time of 9.65 seconds was the fastest in history.[42] Sha'Carri's teammates in this event wereTamari Davis,Twanisha Terry, andGabrielle Thomas.[12]
Richardson began her 2024 season competing in the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon in May, winning in a time of 10.83 seconds.
"I feel great about my race. I feel like I'm continuing to grow and develop into a mature young lady and a mature athlete", Richardson told the media following her victory.[43]
At the2024 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Richardson defended her title in the women's 100-meter sprint event, winning the final in 10.71 seconds on June 22, 2024, and qualifying for the event at the2024 Summer Olympics inParis. She did not qualify for the 200 m, however, finishing fourth in the final of the qualifier.[44] At the Olympics100 m Richardson finished second behindSaint Lucia'sJulien Alfred, who had a faster start out of the blocks and never relinquished her lead.[45] In thewomen's 4 × 100 relay, Richardson ran the race'sanchor leg; after a shaky handoff from teammateGabrielle Thomas, Richardson propelled the U.S. women from third place to first, clinching her first Olympic gold medal.[46] Before crossing the finish line, Richardson turned her head to stare down her closest competitors in one of the Game's iconic moments.[47]
In 2021, a week before her qualifying race for the 2020 Summer Olympics, Richardson's biological mother died.[16] In discussing her suspension for marijuana onThe Today Show, Richardson stated she knew nothing of her mother's death until she was asked about it by a reporter.[49]
Richardson is noted for her long nails and colorful hair on the field, and she has stated that her style is inspired by that ofFlorence Griffith-Joyner.[4][50]
Richardson is sponsored byNike. She wore Nike's Air Zoom Maxfly spikes at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.[51]
Richardson gave a Twitter shout-out to the LGBTQ community immediately after her win in June 2021;[52] she isbisexual.[53][54] In 2021, Richardson dated a woman outside of the public eye.[55][56] In 2025, she was rumored to be dating fellow sprinterChristian Coleman, and they were later confirmed to be together.[57] On July 27, 2025, Richardson was arrested afterassaulting Coleman-- shoving him and taking his backpack --at theSeattle–Tacoma International Airport andsecurity camera footage was judged to provideprobable cause of fourth-degreedomestic violenceassault.[58][59][60] He declined to press charges, stating he didn't feel she should have been arrested. After being held for over 18 hours, Richardson apologized to Coleman and said she would seek help.[61][62]
.jpg)
United States.jpg)
