Betty Harp and Shayaria Richardson are the two women who made Sha’Carri Richardson the woman shattering glass ceilings today. Raised and guided by them, Sha’Carri affectionately calls her grandmother “Big Momma.” With every achievement, she makes them proud, just as she did on June 22nd, during day 2 of the U.S. Olympic Trials. Richardson smoothly navigated the opening round of the women’s 100 meters, clocking in at 10.88 seconds to finish first and advance to the semifinals.

Even though she’s “nervous” about the Summer Games ahead of her, it’s also when she feels “most confident.” Confident because of her family who are always there to support her as seen in May. Richardson’s grandmother and aunt were part of a Sprite Obey Your Thirst campaign alongside her, a moment she cherished deeply. As she expressed the significance of sharing that experience with them, “It was priceless. The sacrifices and the support they’ve given me just over my lifetime, to be able to sit in that moment with them and just create an ad that speaks so many volumes… I feel like that was the greatest moment for me.” But why wasn’t her mother part of her sojourn?

In her childhood, Sha’Carri Richardson faced rejection from her mother, yet she found strength in the pillars of support around her. Her aunt, Shayaria Richardson, reveals that despite the challenges she faced at a young age, the 24-year-old always had the drive to keep moving forward and look at where she is now. At the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Richardson stunned the world with a record-setting time of 10.65 seconds in the Women’s 100 meters, the fastest of the year. In April 2021, she achieved a personal best of 10.62 seconds in the same event.

Additionally, Richardson boasts impressive records in the 200 meters with a time of 21.92 seconds and in the 60 meters with a time of 7.20 seconds. These accomplishments are a testament to the influence of her grandmother and aunt, who instilled in her the values of perseverance and faith. As Richardson herself reflects, “The guidance they provided me with taught me to persevere through any obstacle and to maintain unwavering faith in myself.” Her love for granny was evident in 2021.

Mother’s death shattered Sha’Carri Richardson’s dreams

In 2021, during the trials for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Sha’Carri Richardson openly expressed her deep appreciation for her grandmother. After she qualified US Olympic Trials 100m with a time of 10.86 seconds, she ran into her grandmother’s arms highlighting her family’s significance. Later she emphasized, “Without them, there would be no me. Without my grandmother, there would be no Sha’Carri Richardson. So my family is my everything.” Despite the joy of Olympic qualification, Richardson faced a tumultuous turn of events shortly thereafter.

Just weeks later, she tested positive for marijuana, a setback that overshadowed her Olympic aspirations as she was banned for 1 month. In an emotional interview with NBC, Richardson revealed the recent passing of her biological mother, highlighting the profound challenges she confronted. Yet, she remained resolute, crediting her family for providing the support that kept her grounded amidst adversity. Acknowledging her struggles and the role of marijuana in coping with her mother’s death, Richardson expressed gratitude for her support and understanding. . Despite these obstacles, Sha’Carri Richardson remains a beacon of hope for the USA, striving to qualify for the Paris Olympics.