Sha’Carri Richardson

Sports Career of Sha’Carri Richardson | Sha’Carri Richardson Biography

Sha’Carri Richardson is one of the fastest women of all time. She first rose to prominence as a youth athlete in 2016 when she ran 11.47 seconds at the age of 16. This time would rank around 300^th in the world at the senior level, most years.

The next year, she dropped her best in the 100-meter to 11.28 seconds and qualified for the World U20 Championships in the 4×100-meter relay. Team USA captured gold at these championships. 

Richardson continued to see consistent improvement through the 2018 season, running an 11.12-second time but with a wind above the allowable limit to be considered a personal best.

Richardson started her college career in 2019 with LSU. In her rookie season, she ran 7.27 seconds at the NCAA Division I Championships in Birmingham, Alabama, to finish seventh. She broke the 11-second barrier in the 100-meter for the first time in May at the NCAA East Preliminary Round, running 10.99 seconds.

She then dropped this time to 10.75 seconds at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships, winning as a freshman and setting a new NCAA record.

Pandemic Season and Beyond

Richardson lost most of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, but she raced in July until early August. She dropped under the 11-second barrier four times, twice with a legal wind and twice with a wind above the limit.

Richardson turned pro in 2021 and began competing in the top professional meets in the United States and Europe.

In her first professional season, she won the prestigious Ostrava Golden Spike in the Czech Republic and also set a new personal best at the Miramar Invitational, running 10.72 seconds in April. Notably, she also ran 10.77 seconds into a -1.2m/s wind at the USATF Golden Games and 10.74 seconds with a +1.1m/s wind in the final.

Richardson originally qualified for the USA Olympic team after winning the USA Olympic Trials with a time of 10.77 seconds, but this result was later annulled due to a positive drug test with a metabolite of cannabis. Cannabis products are currently still banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) during the competition season. 

Richardson received a one-month suspension, which unfortunately overlapped with the dates of the Olympics. She later said that she took marijuana to cope with the recent death of her biological mother. The suspension was criticized by many, and even the then-president Joe Biden suggested that the drug-testing rules be amended.

WADA is an international body beyond the jurisdiction of the United States, so even an active president doesn’t have jurisdiction to change the rule. WADA is currently still reviewing evidence on whether cannabis products should be legalized in sport.

Richardson came back the next season and ran several times under 11 seconds in the 100-meter. However, she ran poorly at the USA Championships, running a time of 11.31 seconds in the heats of the 100-meter and missing the semi-final. She also failed to make the final in the 200-meter and wouldn’t qualify for the World Championships held in Eugene, Oregon. 

Despite a disappointing 2022 season, Richardson regrouped and returned better than ever in 2023. She ran 10.57 seconds in the 100-meter dash in April, although the wind was 4.1m/s. This would be the fourth fastest time ever under any conditions.

At the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, she breezed through her heat with a time of 10.92 seconds and ran 10.95 seconds in her semi-final. In the final, she set a personal best of 10.65 seconds, which ranked her fifth all-time, tied with Shericka Jackson and Marion Jones. She also won gold with Team USA in the 4×100-meter relay, setting a championship record.

Richardson went into the 2024 season largely as the favorite to win gold in Paris. She ran well at the US Olympic Trials, winning the 100 meters and finishing fourth in the 200 meters.

In Paris, she won her heat with a time of 10.94 seconds in the 100-meter and then finished second in her semi-final section, running 10.87 seconds, behind only Julien Alfred. She ran 10.89 seconds in the final, but once again finished behind Alfred, who won the first-ever Olympic gold medal for Saint Lucia.

Richardson also helped Team USA win gold in the 4 x 100-meter team, running the anchor leg.

Richardson qualified for the 2025 World Athletics Championships as the defending champion in the 100-meter. She finished fifth with a time of 10.94 seconds in the final.

Sha’Carri Richardson Personal Life and Other Facts | Sha’Carri Richardson Runner

Richardson was raised by her grandmother, Betty, and her aunt Shay in Dallas, Texas, and went to Carter High School. She didn’t have a relationship with her biological parents, but would call her aunt her mother while growing up.

She’s known for her long nails and often colorful hair while competing. She’s currently sponsored by Nike.

When Richardson was suspended for cannabis, she said she took it to deal with the pain of losing her biological mother, who passed away the week before trials. Many people voiced their opinion on why marijuana products should be legalized in sports.

For instance. Super Bowl champion quarterback Richard Sherman would say, “She is dealing with one of the greatest personal losses anyone could ever have to deal with in the midst of trying to accomplish one of the most difficult feats. Now we make her explain.”

She has tweeted saying that she’s bisexual and previously dated Janeek Brown. Her ex-girlfriend, Brown, who is two years older, publicly admitted to abusing Richardson during their tumultuous relationship.

As of May 2025, she was dating Christian Coleman, the former world champion in the 100-meter. She was arrested at the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport after shoving Coleman. Coleman declined to press charges and later commented that he didn’t think she should have been arrested.

Richardson has had public feuds with several other athletes, including the three Jamaicans who finished on the podium at the 2020 Olympics during her suspension and Allyson Felix.

FAQs | Sha’Carri Richardson

How Tall Is Sha’Carri Richardson?

Sha’Carri Richardson is about 155 centimeters tall or about 5’1”.

How Old is Sha’Carri Richardson?

Sha’Carri Richardson was born on March 25, 2000, making her 26 years old.

Where is Sha’Carri Richardson From?

Sha’Carri Richardson is from Dallas, Texas, and graduated from Carter High School.

What is Sha’Carri Richardson’s Best 100m time? | Sha’Carri PR

Sha’Carri Richardson ran 10.65 seconds at the World Championships in Budapest in 2023. This time makes her the fifth fastest woman in history.

How Many Gold Medals Does Sha’Carri Richardson Have?

Sha’Carri Richardson has one Olympic Gold medal in the 4×100-meter relay. She also has two gold medals from the 2023 World Championships.

Where Did Sha’Carri Richardson Go to College?

Sha’Carri Richardson went to college at Louisiana State University (LSU). She would only compete for them for one year before turning pro. She set the NCAA record as a freshman.