Sha’Carri Richardson has only two things on her mind when she enters the track: To win and to look good while winning. This has been seen throughout her career with her bold and unique fashion choices. She has sported large wigs, long eyelashes, and colored nails. In numerous instances, she has been compared to Florence Griffith Joyner in her career. She was the first one to race while being fashionable with her long nails and hairstyle. Flo-Jo’s philosophy was, “Dress good to look good. Look good to feel good. And it feels good to run fast.”

It is evident that Richardson follows the same philosophy. She has been called the Flo-Jo of this generation numerous times. Both athletes represented African American culture with their bright outfit choices and flamboyant styles. While they have earned their fair share of critics because of this, it doesn’t really matter. If they are being criticized, it means people are tuning in to watch every day. That’s what Sha’Carri Richardson said during a recent interview when asked about her fashion. She spoke about how people criticize her because her fashion choices are not traditional, but they still tune in to watch her every day. Even if they don’t like her style, they’ll still have to ‘respect’ her because she delivers virtuoso performances every time she steps on the track.

Sha’Carri Richardson on how people have no say in the matter of her fashion

In a recent interview with Blavity TV, Sha’Carri Richardson was asked about her style. They further asked about how she pushes the envelope every time she steps on the track. She said, “I feel like pushing the envelope continues to show that being your authentic self is all that you need.” This is something she shares with Flo-Jo. Flo-Jo entered the scene when athletics was more traditional, and people mainly focused on the running. She stayed true to herself and dressed in a way she felt was appropriate, which brought a new style to athletics and cemented her status as an icon. Richardson is following a similar path. However, what she said after this really captured everyone’s attention.

“I feel like even seeing other woman that you can see in other sports they’re like ‘I don’t care what you say about my hair, I don’t care what y’all say about my outfit, I don’t care about that because at the end of the day I’m going to do what I do, but you still gonna watch, you’re still going to respect it and you have no choice but to look’.” This message was directed at those who criticize her and her style. She refuses to shy away or conform to their rules. There’s nothing they can do about it because her performances demand their attention. This is evident from her remarkable performances at the Paris Olympics.

Sha’Carri Richardson’s impressive outing at the Paris Olympics

Sha’Carri Richardson had a lot to prove in Paris. It was her first ever Olympics as she faced suspension in Tokyo for her use of cannabis. She had to prove her doubters wrong. In the 100m where she was touted as the favorite, she had to settle for silver after losing the gold to Saint Alfred’s Julien Alfred. But, she had to move on soon and concentrate on the 4×100 relay.

In that event, she delivered her best performance, anchoring the US team to a gold medal and providing one of the most iconic moments of the Olympics. Before crossing the finish line, she glanced back at her competitors, who were struggling to catch up. This bold gesture immediately captured everyone’s attention. Richardson explained that her glance was a reminder to herself that she couldn’t relinquish her lead or let all the team’s hard work go to waste. This resolve was likely strengthened by her previous 100m race, where she never gave up and finished with a time of 10.09 seconds after receiving the baton.

At the podium, she was overcome with emotion as she reflected on the ups and downs of her career that had brought her to this moment. All those who doubted and criticized her were left speechless. It was as if she was conveying that, regardless of what others say, she is here to stay.