Sha’Carri Richardson finally made her 100m season debut and laid down a marker ahead of Paris Olympics trials. At the Diamond League Prefontaine Classic the spotlight was on Richardson and Elaine Thompson-Herah, the reigning Olympic gold medalist in both the 100 and 200 meters. But it was the 2023 100m world champion Richardson who prevailed in 10.83 seconds, the second fastest time in the world this year.

As Thompson finished last, this win solidified Richardson as a prime contender when it came to 100m, especially after two disappointing 200m races in China. Those who backed her to eventually come through would be delighted and one among them was former Olympian Justin Gatlin. Earlier this month, Justin Gatlin shared his perspective on Richardson’s challenging start to the season and said he was not too worried.

Sha’Carri Richardson was backed by Gatlin to ‘smash’ Flo-Jo’s record

At the start of the year Richardson suffered two consecutive defeats in the 200m. She finished in second place in her season debut at the Xiamen Diamond League behind 19-year-old Torrie Lewis with a time of 22.99. This was followed by another setback at the Shanghai Diamond League where she ended up in third place with 23.11s behind Britain’s Daryll Neita who came out on top and American sprinter Anavia Battle, who secured second place. But these results didn’t disappoint Gatlin.

In his podcast, Ready Set Go Gatlin stood by Richardson, stating, “I am not too concerned right now because they are 200s, but we know her premier race is the 100m.” And his faith was rewarded following Richardson’s victory at the Prefontaine Classic on 25th May. The reigning world champion started off well but trailed Julien Alfred in the early stages, however, she picked momentum at 30m and surged into the lead which she held on till the end.

Richardson’s impressive win saw her outpace formidable competition including two-time reigning Olympic gold medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah, who crossed the line last with a time of 11.30. For Gatlin, Sha’Carri’s fresh triumph might not have been a complete surprise. The legendary sprinter has time and again shown a lot of trust in Sha’Carri’s capability.

Justin Gatlin’s support for Richardson is not new. He has long believed in her potential and has been a steadfast supporter. In 2021, Justin Gatlin appeared on a FloTrack podcast. When the host inquired about Sha’Carri Richardson’s potential performance in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, Gatlin shared his thoughts, saying, “She’s like a firecracker. I believe she’s capable of running a 10.6. I’ve seen her in practice and I think she’s even capable of hitting a 10.5. It’s all about keeping her focused.” However, later, Sha’Carri could not compete in the Tokyo Olympics as she faced a 30-day suspension because of testing positive for THC after the Olympic trials that year. But again, Gatlin showed faith in her in another statement in 2022.

Gatlin’s belief in Richardson’s potential was evident in his statement, where he emphasized her relentless work ethic and hinted at her capability to surpass Flojo’s world record. He said, “She comes through 10.5, 10.03..you know I mean that’s smashing the world record that Flojo put together so if she doing that practice all it’s only gonna be a moment in time where if she puts together at a real meet she’s breaking the world record”. Gatlin’s early recognition of Richardson’s potential reflected his deep understanding of the sport and his belief in her exceptional talent.

In his statement from that time, Gatlin emphasized Richardson’s rigorous training regimen and her knack for breaking records during practice sessions, hinting at her future successes on the track. Riding on her burgeoning success and her appearances, Richardson often draws comparisons to the legendary Florence Griffith Joyner (Flo-Jo), renowned not only for her athletic prowess but also for her distinctive fashion sense.

While Richardson has achieved an impressive personal best of 10.83 seconds in the 100m event, she has yet to surpass Flo-Jo’s unbeaten record of 10.49 seconds. Similarly, in the 200m event, Richardson’s best time falls short of Flo-Jo’s iconic mark of 21.34 seconds. However, with an impressive showing in Prefontaine Classic the future bodes well for her. Speaking on her win, Richardson admitted that she was nervous ahead of 100m season debut.

“I would not be human…” Sha’Carri Richardson opens up on pre race thoughts

The win at Prefontaine Classic brought elation and relief for Richardson. Talking after the win she said, “I would not be human to say that I wasn’t nervous. But, as my coach said, use that nervousness as motivation.”

When asked about her thoughts on the performance she said, “I’m excited, I’m eager going into the rest of this season, I’m growing, developing and just getting ready to make that USA Team.” She then said she is “Grinding, focusing, growing and getting ready for Trials,” which begin from 21-30 June.

Last August, at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Sha’Carri Richardson showcased her prowess by clocking her fastest 100m time yet, a blistering 10.65 seconds. Her remarkable feat earned her the prestigious Jackie Joyner-Kersee Athlete of the Year award for women. Not only did Richardson seize victory in the 100m event, but she also secured bronze in the 200m and played a pivotal role in anchoring the women’s 4x100m relay team to gold, solidifying her status as a force to be reckoned with on the global stage.

With upcoming trials on the horizon, the competition promises to be intense as Richardson vies for supremacy against the world’s top athletes, setting the stage for an exhilarating showdown. After being unable to compete in Tokyo, Richardson will like to have a shot at glory in Paris and if her recent win is anything to go by, she will be hard to stop.