Sha’Carri Richardson looked a bit emotional when she stood firm at the podium wearing her gold hardware from the women’s 4x100m relay victory. Such emotional scenes are most common at the Olympics, but her reason was extraordinary. With the gold, she ended all those voices that had chased her after her ban from the Tokyo Olympics. In fact, on August 9, she rubbed her shoulder with someone in the relay with whom she had a bittersweet bonding experience before. Yes, she is none other than Gabrielle ‘Gabby’ Thomas. 

In Sha’Carri Richardson and Gabby’s relationship, there’s no lack of hues. But as per the former, now it’s time to step on the accelerator, as the duo has been enjoying their camaraderie lately. 

Sha’Carri Richardson could hear the ‘stick’ only 

After the Budapest World Athletics Championships last year, it was the second time for Sha’Carri Richardson that she had to sync her sprint with Gabby Thomas. The concerted goal was to end on a better note at the Paris Olympics’ relay event. In her conversation with Unbothered, the 24-year-old sprinter said that in the penultimate race, she couldn’t hear anything apart from Gabby’s voice because “Everything else is a blur.” Furthermore, Sha’Carri said that she felt determined when Gabby Thomas handed her the baton, sensing her trust to make the team champion. This realization could feel like a fresh addition, especially after their beef before the Tokyo Olympics. 

Three years ago, Sha’Carri Richardson’s ban from the Tokyo Olympics outraged her fans. Several of them called for boycotts of the Tokyo Olympics, showing their support for the LSU alum. However, Gabby Thomas couldn’t stay mum and showed her unhappiness over such a decision. 

“It really hurts to see so many black people choosing not to watch the Olympics this year,” she wrote on her social media. “There are so many black athletes who have put in YEARS of hard work for this moment- myself included. We want your support.” The outspoken sprinter soon shared her take on such a comment. But later, she deleted her tweet. 

Sha’Carri Richardson roared, “Athletes that haven’t and will never beat me have a lot to say about or surrounding my situation. When most of them have said nothing to me showing their characters that y’all don’t see behind the races.” Clearly, she aimed toward the 200m Olympic medalist. But her invincible record against Gabby stumbled this year when she had to accept the defeat in the women’s 200m trial final. Still, their freshly repaired bonding over the years kept them from going into another verbal spat. And this will remain strong. Proof? 

The once-in-a-lifetime bonding in the relay team 

The trust Gabby Thomas put in Sha’Carri Richardson with the baton, the latter fulfilled with all her might. Before the anchor leg in the women’s 4x100m relay final at the Paris Olympics, Team USA was trailing behind both Great Britain and Germany. Even in the last 30m, Team GB’s Daryll Neita was leading the pack. But SCR pushed herself to finish her split in 10.09 seconds and cross her opponents. And it was almost a repeat of what happened one year ago. 

At the Budapest World Athletics Championships as well, Sha’Carri Richardson was in the anchor leg, and she had to take the baton from Gabby Thomas again. The opponent list was no less heavy, as it had the arch-rival Jamaicans. Still in the last leg, the race was limited to her, and Shericka Jackson and Sha’Carri won the duel. There as well, Gabby Thomas could be seen shouting “Go go!” at the reigning world champion. So, for the latter, Gabby has now become an agent to push her beyond her limit. Isn’t it what Sha’Carri Richardson has wanted in her career?