2021 was a rollercoaster ride for the 21-year-old Sha’Carri Richardson. While she attained success at the US Olympic trials, she had a major setback in her personal life, losing her mother.
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And, things only got worse when she was banned from the track and field sport, shattering her Tokyo Olympics dream. Many came forward in her support, but many also judged her for making decisions that led to her ban.
Sha’Carri Richardson did not want to be judged for her ways of dealing with her emotions
Richardson snubbed the 11 seconds by clocking the time of 10.72 seconds at the US Olympics trials for Tokyo in June. Richardson was all set to make her Olympic debut. However, despite the success, she could not celebrate because of the demise of her biological mother.
Sha’Carri was going through a rough phase and used some illegal means to get over the pain. Sadly, it did not align with her dreams as during the post-race she tested positive for marijuana and was banned from the Tokyo Olympics team.
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BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – SEPTEMBER 03: Sha’carri Richardson of the United States looks on during the women’s 200m of the Wanda Diamond League Memorial Van Damme at King Baudouin Stadium on September 3, 2021 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Jorge Luis Alvarez Pupo/Getty Images)
People started picking her for the one mistake she made in her dark times. Urging people not to judge her, she said, ?We all have our different struggles. But to put on a face, to have to go in front of the world and put on a face and hide my pain, like, who are you? Who am I to tell you how to cope when you?re dealing with pain or you?re dealing with a struggle you?ve never experienced before??
Further adding, ?I apologize for the fact that I didn?t know how to control my emotions or deal with my emotions during that time. Don?t judge me. I am human.? I just happen to run a little faster.??
‘Sub Eleven Seconds’: Documentary on Richardson’s success
‘Sub Eleven Seconds’ a documentary that will cover Sha’Carri Richardson, will release at the Sundance festival. The documentary is produced by the late designer Virgil Abloh.
It will beautifully depict Richardson’s journey during the US Olympic trials, ‘a rumination on time, loss, and hope.’ While 2021 was not the best year for her, it’s still not fair for anyone to judge her without stepping into her position. Because an athlete’s life doesn’t surround only around sports, but they have a personal life as well; something the world keeps forgetting.
Do you think it was fair for people to judge the young athlete?
