Sha’Carri Richardson’s dismal run post-Paris continues as new updates have brought sad news for her fans. Failing to capitalize on the favorite tag in Paris, Richardson ended up with her maiden Olympic silver medal in 100m. While this could well be dismissed as a bad day in the office, Richardson’s fans expected a fiery reply from their track and field queen. And she did start on the right note as well. Defeating her Olympics nemesis Julian Alfred, Richardson reigned supreme at the Zurich Diamond League. 

Looking to further flex her dominance on the St. Lucian, Richardson failed miserably at Brussels. And if that were not enough sadness for her fans, their anguish would be doubled after looking at the final list of athletes for the 200m category in Brussels. Expected to feature in one of her strongest categories, Sha’Carri Richardson has seemingly pulled out of the race. This can be the only explanation for her name not being a part of the final call list.

In her absence, Talou Smith, Anavia Battle, Daryll Neita, and Tamara Clark will be fancying their chances to go for the gold. Although Richardson’s opting out of the race is pretty much confirmed, it is utterly confusing as to what stimulated the decision. Meanwhile, running in the 100m final, the battle lines were drawn for another epic Richardson vs. Alfred showdown. Sadly, in the most anti-climactic manner, Richardson failed to even get a podium finish. As Alfred breezed to victory, clocking 10.88s, the slow start yet again came back to bite Richardson in the back. She looked uncharacteristically slow and ended the race in the eighth position, running 11.23s. As a matter of fact, while Richardson seems to be crumbling under pressure, this was not her only 200m debacle in recent times. 

Sha’Carri Richardson had an unexpected miss at the US Olympic trials

Sha’Carri Richardson hugged her Aunt Betty after securing a place in the 100m category in Paris. Next up, Richardson upped the ante with a blistering time of 21.99s in the 200m heat to make a strong case for her Paris qualification. And just when things looked to be going smoothly for the US female sprint sensation, Richardson had the most inexplicable slip-ups. Running in the finals of the trials, Richardson seemed very slow off the blocks. This lapse in time allowed her opponents to take a significant lead, which Richardson could not make up later. While Gabby Thomas took pole position with 21.81s, Richardson missed out on the Olympic berth, coming fourth with a time of 22.16s.

And this was not new for Richardson. Riding on the back of heavy hype, Sha’Carri Richardson finished ninth in the 100m final at the 2021 Prefontaine Classics. She clocked 11.14s as Jamaican athletes dominated proceedings. History repeated once again as Richardson failed to impress yet again at the 2022 US track and field championship. And now, with the Brussels failure, serious questions will be raised regarding Sha’Carri Richardson’s temperament in big finals. Going forward, if she really wants to present herself like a Bentley—’fast’and expensive’ as quoted in ‘Sprint’, there is some serious hard work Richardson needs to put in to regain her legendary status.