Sha’Carri Richardson vs Florence Griffith Joyner: Will the 23-Year-Old Ever Surpass the American Legend

Sha’Carri Richardson and Florence Griffith Joyner are two of the brightest global track and field stars. Flo-Jo has been the epitome of athletic finesse, as her 100-meter and 200-meter world records stand still to this day. Many athletes have attempted to match Flo-Jo’s finish line time, yet her record remains unchallenged which is 10.49 in 100m and 21.34 in 200m. One athlete who is looked up to as the next big thing in the women’s track and field realm and the one who can challenge the late American legend’s record is however Sha’Carri Richardson.

More so, Richardson has already taken the path of greatness, and it looks like she has stepped into the shoes of the three-time Olympic gold-winning champion. The 21-year-old American runner currently holds the world title in 100 meters, and she has single-handedly challenged Jamaican dominance in the past few months. Now the question arises: can Sha’Carri Richardson replicate what the American legend did in the past? A track and field enthusiast once attempted to draw a comparison between the two.

An analysis of Sha’Carri Richardson and Florence Griffith Joyner

In a video posted by Performance Lab of California on their YouTube channel, host Morey Croson tried to break down the similarities between the running forms of both athletes. Croson starts with both runners sprinting on the split screen, and he starts with, “There are like a lot of similarities here between both their running forms.”

The analysis delves further into the differentiation of contact times. Flo-Jo, it notes, makes contact with the ground at 17 to zero and is back off the ground at just 27, resulting in a total contact time of 1.07.08. In contrast, Richardson’s contact times range between 0.07 and 0.08. According to this breakdown, Richardson could potentially achieve a faster full contact time than Flo-Jo.

The analysis goes on to highlight the fluidity and grace in Richardson’s running style, making her appear as though she’s gliding over the ground. On the other hand, Flo-Jo is described as picking up distance with each step. His report suggests that this is an area where the current world champion has room for improvement.

However, in terms of their ability to take advantage of the ground and be able to produce the slingshot effect from the ground, both athletes were at the same level. Creson ends the comparison with these concluding words: “Sha’Carri Richardson could end up being able to compete with Flo-Jo and being able to get really down into those low sub-10 area.” Apart from her track and field finesse, Richardson is also compared to the world’s fastest woman for one more reason.

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Another similarity between the two sprinters

It’s their fashion sense that is another striking similarity between the two runners. Flo-Jo was known for her distinctive fashion sense; she used to wear that iconic one-legged spandex bodysuit, and sometimes she also used to run in a hooded bodysuit. Apart from this, she was also known for her long, sporting nails.

On the other hand, Richardson is considered one of the most stylish runners, and she also has the same kind of style as Flo-Jo. Be it those long painted nails or that orange wig that she removes just before lining up for a race.

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Her tattoos are also a highlight of her fashion, and she never shies away from expressing her true self on the ground. While Richardson is carving her path of greatness with her remarkable speed and style, reminiscent of the legendary Flo-Jo, she will always be looked up to as the “Greatest of All Time.”