Reigning World Champion Sha’Carri Richardson has qualified for the Paris Olympics in 2024. While earning her spot at the Olympics, Richardson also set a world lead time of 10.71. “It’s a full circle moment, I’m super excited to continue to grow and build from this momentum that we’ve already established here.” she told reporters in Eugene after her 100m victory at the trials. Born on March 25, 2000 (in Dallas, Texas, US), she is one of the fastest female sprinters in the world and is known for her power-packed starts and lightning speed.

The spunky athlete stands out from the crowd not only for her achievements but also for her exuberant personality. An icon on and off the track, Sha’Carri has a style uniquely tailored to her personality. Often seen sporting a bold look with multicolored hair, tattoos, catchy outfits, and intricate nails, she carries herself with panache. She is also notable for her unique build. Along with her strong work ethic and hard work, her height and weight provide the ideal framework to be a champion.

Sha’Carri Richardson’s physical attributes, compared with an average female Olympic sprinter

Richardson’s physical attributes provide her with the optimal power and strength needed to reach impressive speed with quickness. With her fiery starts, she is able to accelerate speedily out of the blocks. The 24-year-old stands at 5’2″ (152.4 cm)  and weighs somewhere between 99 and 115 lbs.

As we can see, Sha’Carri is shorter than the average sprinter by 3 to 6 inches and lighter by 21 to 30 lbs. In sprinting, a runner’s height and weight are major factors in their performance. Taller runners have the advantage of longer stride lengths, but they also tend to be heavier. So, though their height gives them the benefit of covering more ground quickly, their weight does not allow them to accelerate rapidly at the beginning. Comparatively, a shorter runner has the plus point of weighing less, which helps shoot out of the blocks with a blast. But here, they would be at a disadvantage due to their shorter height, which translates to shorter strides. Every second counts when competing, and these little factors could cause them to lose out to their fellow competitors. Now this is where Sha’Carri Richardson’s height-to-weight ratio comes into play.

She is tall enough to take lengthy strides and has a long stride length. But she is not too heavy or tall enough to affect her acceleration. In fact, her weight gives her stability and balance. Her power-to-weight ratio is optimal, and she is able to maintain her speed for the entirety of the race while accelerating quickly.

Sha’Carri’s mantra: “I’m not back, I’m better.”

Sha’Carri’s mantra since winning the U.S. and world titles in 2023 has been, “I’m not back, I’m better. Everything I’ve been through… to be in this moment right now, there’s nothing I’ve been through that hasn’t designed me to sit right here in front of you.” (as reported by Paris 2024 Olympic news.) In 2021, Richardson was rising in her career and had qualified for Team USA for the Tokyo Olympics. However, her win was marred by her testing positive for marijuana. She stated she had smoked marijuana to cope with the pressure of her mother’s death (which she got to know of when asked by a reporter) and the ongoing Olympic preparations. However, due to the month-long suspension, she was ineligible for the Olympics 100 m and was not selected for the 4 * 100 m relay. Thus, she ended up missing the Olympics entirely.

Since her return from the marijuana fiasco, Richardson has been unapologetically determined to be the best there is. And she has always backed it up with incredible results. Apart from being focused on herself and her game, she talks about the importance of mental and emotional health. She encourages youngsters to learn from both her accomplishments and her mistakes.