Rewinding the reel to the brilliance at the 2023 World Athletics Championships track, one phenom needs special mention. Currently standing among the greats as the Laureus Sport Awards nominee, the 23-year-old Sha’Carri Richardson has tasted success last year like no other. Nabbing victory in the 100m dash and a bronze 200m came along with the 4 x 100m relay gold on the penultimate day.

But the 4 x 100 m relay didn’t come to the USA’s purse by Richardson’s efforts solely. Another track icon, Gabby Thomas, who was equally responsible for steering the team wheel, also received praise for shushing the Jamaican team. Since one passed the baton to another in the run, what was the secret behind their concord?

Sha’Carri Richardson and Gabby Thomas’ standout harmony

By the visuals, it can be figured out that Gabby Thomas was chosen to run second-last in the 4 x 100 relay, before handing the baton to Richardson. But when NBC Sports caught Thomas unveiling the secret behind the win, the truth came as a blow. She said, “My job was to get it into Sha’Carri’s hands because we had to make some last-minute adjustments for the Relay. Sha’Carri and I had not practiced handing off to one another because originally I was second leg. We really had to have trust in each other in that moment”. Something that was solely based on blind trust bore fruits in such a way that the US women’s team left their biggest adversary, Jamaica, trailing behind.

Her statement further demonstrated the love she holds for her younger counterpart. She said: “The best feeling was watching Sha’carri run away with that baton I knew we had it… I said just ‘go take off go go go'”. It was Thomas’ motivational scream that still rings, especially looking at the fourth-fastest American woman outpace arch-rival Shericka Jackson. Besides the relay podium, the history makers shared the 200m podium as well.

Thomas and Richardson: Toe-to-toe

Competing against one another all year made them join to create a sight in the 4 x 100m relay. But in the individual sprint categories, they were back to basics. In the 200m dash, there was reigning champ Shericka Jackson with 21.41 CR on the pole position, and Thomas with 21.81 on silver. But the 100m winner couldn’t blaze past Thomas this time.

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While Richardson was away from the New Balance Grand Prix, it was the perfect occasion for the 27-year-old to have the stage to herself. The two-time Olympian wrote history in the 300m to win the title. Probably vying for the Olympic titles, the team buddies will lock horns at the Paris Olympics.

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