Sha’Carri Richardson, the American track sensation who turns the 100m and 200m into her playground, snagged a well-earned gold in the 4x100m relay at the Paris Olympics. But in a surprising turn of events, she had to settle for silver in the much-anticipated 100m final, narrowly edged out by St. Lucia’s 23-year-old prodigy, Julien Alfred. Despite being the odds-on favorite thanks to her blazing performances at the 2023 World Championships and her world-leading times in 2024, Paris wasn’t her stage to shine in the 100m.

And just when you thought things couldn’t get more dramatic, right before the Olympics, Sha’Carri made headlines with her appearance on Netflix’s “Sprint” Season 1, which put a spotlight on her track prowess. But in a twist-worthy cliffhanger, Netflix announced the lineup for Season 2, and guess who didn’t make the cut? That’s right—Sha’Carri, thus leaving fans fuming.

Sha’Carri Richardson goes from celebrated to snubbed by Netflix’s SPRINT

On August 22, Citius Mag turned up the heat on X with the scoop about the new season of Netflix’s SPRINT, fresh from the Paris Olympics. The upcoming roster is star-studded, featuring Olympic champions like Noah Lyles, who clinched gold in the 100m and bronze in the 200m, and Letsile Tebogo, the electrifying 200m champ and 4x400m silver medallist. Gabby Thomas, who snagged three golds, including in the 200m, and Julien Alfred, who dominated in the 100m and earned silver in the 200m, will also be in the mix. However, in a surprising twist, the list noticeably lacks Sha’Carri Richardson, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah, and Zharnel Hughes—who were all stars of Season 1.

Season 1 of SPRINT got its share of critiques, mainly for not being newbie-friendly. Bianca Knight, London Games gold medalist, took to Twitter to share her thoughts: “Watching ‘Sprint’. 3 episodes in and I don’t know… the way it’s cut, it’s still not providing enough info for a person unfamiliar with this sport itself,” she wrote. She added, “All of this information could be obtained by following socials. I feel like I expected more BTS ‘raw’ footage.” Knight felt the series missed the mark for those new to track and field, leaving some viewers feeling out of the loop.

Despite the gripes, Season 1 was a huge hit, largely due to the high-profile appearances of stars like Sha’Carri Richardson and Noah Lyles. The show set a new streaming record, racking up 2.4 million views in its first week and landing as Netflix’s 6th most-watched series globally. But here’s the kicker: Fans are now fuming over Sha’Carri’s surprising omission from Season 2. Given her standout performance in the first season and her two Olympic medal hauls, her absence has fans scratching their heads!

Fans aren’t mincing words about this unexpected exclusion!

Fans are buzzing about Sha’Carri Richardson’s surprise snub from SPRINT Season 2. The comments section on X is overflowing with disappointment and frustration. One fan summed it up with, “Although happy about new athletes’ inclusion, not having Sha’Carri back for S2 is BAD.” Given that Season 1 showcased the 100-meter sprint at the 2023 World Championships and was packed with excitement, the exclusion of such a standout from episode 1 like Sha’Carri has fans scratching their heads.

Another fan boldly asked, “No Sha’Carri, are they crazy?”—a sentiment echoed by many who were looking forward to her return. Sha’Carri’s slow start in the 100m final, with a reaction time of .221 seconds—the slowest of all runners—was a major factor in her silver medal finish, as she couldn’t catch up to the speedy Julien Alfred from Saint Lucia.

She also had a sluggish start in the semifinal, hinting at her struggles. Adding to the intrigue, Richardson skipped interviews in Paris, fueling speculation that she might have turned down the opportunity to be featured in Season 2. One fan even wondered, “No Sha’Carri? She must have refused to participate cause willingly not having her in this is insane.”

With Noah Lyles making a return and Sha’Carri missing, another fan made their frustration clear: “No Sha’Carri, won’t be watching; everybody outside of Noah is a snooze fest.” Yet, not all is gloom and doom; one user expressed mixed feelings, writing, “Oh, Sha’Carri isn’t featured?! So glad Tebogo and Kishane are going to be in it,” showing that while they’re bummed about Richardson’s absence, they’re excited about the new talent.

As the buzz around Sha’Carri Richardson’s unexpected exclusion from SPRINT Season 2 continues to heat up, we’re keen to know what you think about this surprising turn of events. Do you believe her absence is a missed opportunity or a strategic choice? Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments below—what’s your take on this twist?