Sha’Carri Richardson Poster Slammed as Lack of Her Jamaican Rivals Gets Fans Fuming at World Athletics: “Shame on Y’all”

Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles are probably some of the most-followed track and field athletes ahead of the Paris Olympics. Understandably, the track and field community is bracing up to see some fast-paced action from them at the French capital in July. Like other fans, the World Athletics is also excited to see the world’s top talents make their way to the track, but their enthusiasm might need to see stars beyond the shadow of Sha’carri Richardson or Noah Lyles, fans believe.

While Richardson and Lyles are undoubtedly some of the biggest names in the track and field community right now, they haven’t won any significant feats on the grandest stage, and fans believe the World Athletics’ ignorance of the Jamaican athletes needs to be rectified.

A recent post by the World Athletics reminded fans that the big showdown is almost upon us. “Who will be the star of this year’s Olympic Games?“, the post sounds inquisitive about learning who track and field fans will be rooting for in July. However, while several athletes can be seen adorning the poster, fans can’t overlook the fact that some more decorated names have been blatantly ignored by the track and field apex body in order to place Sha’Carri Richardson in the very middle of the image. For many, this is quite a hard pill to swallow.

The post also shows images of other track and field stars including javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra of India, the USA shot put team member Ryan Crouser, and high-jump specialist Mondo Duplantis. However, the placements of Sha’Carri and Noah in significant positions weren’t something fans could just turn a blind eye to.

Naturally, chaos ensued.

Fans aren’t keen on seeing Richardson at the front

Jordan thinks the World Athletics needs to take a moment and ponder over their decision to put Richardson in the middle and adjust the defending 100m and 200m gold medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah of Jamaica to the side. For him, the poster simply feels disrespectful considering Sha’Carri’s accolades compared to the likes of Shericka Jackson, Shelly-Ann, and Thompson-Herah in the poster. “Why is sha carri in the middle someone who only has 1 world title and never been to the Olympics and Elaine on the side? And why is shelly the “queen” not on this especially in the center also where is shericka?? Shame on yall Disrespectful“, commented the infuriated fan. And frustration seems all the more justified considering how the last Olympics saw the Jamaican female sprinters dominate the tracks, especially in the 100m event, where all the first three positions were bagged by Thompson-Herah, Fraser-Pryce, and Jackson, respectively.

Elaine is the first woman athlete in history to win the coveted sprint double in two back-to-back Olympics (2016 and 2020). Naturally, seeing her on the side while Richardson took the middle spot prompted Kadeem to comment, “The disrespect that Elaine Thompson-Herah gets…“.

37-year-old Shelly-Ann is also a three-time Olympic gold medalist. “WHERE IS SHELLY??”, commented another enraged fan while also claiming no one else but Elaine should have been at the center.

The only time Richardson beat Shelly-Ann and Shericka Jackson was at the 2023 World Championships, where the former won the gold in the 100m race. The fact got Raemond hammering the keyboard trying to fathom what the World Athletics was thinking while designing the poster. “where is @realshellyannfp, how much medals Shacarri or the others have????“, read his comment.

Another fan also thinks there can’t be any arguments about who should have been in the middle of the poster. “Still trying to understand why Elaine isn’t in the middle“, wrote Melanin in the comments.

Who would have put in the central position in such a poster? Share your thoughts with us!