Sha’Carri Richardson’s Biggest Hurdle to 200m Gold Just Announced for Diamond League

Olympic gold medalist Shericka Jackson has announced her participation in the upcoming Diamond League, slated to kick off in Shanghai, China next month, and Sha’Carri Richardson will get a run for her money. For Sha’Carri Richardson, the dream of clinching her maiden Olympic gold is probably more intense than most of her comrades.

After the doping fiasco that kept her on the sidelines during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, her efforts have only intensified. However, it looks like her path to the top won’t be an easy one by any means. From Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who’s looking to end her final Olympic Games on a high note, to national teammate Gabby Thomas, a plethora of strong candidates will come after Richardson on her quest to glory on the grandest stage. And now it looks like another familiar foe is about to do the same, and even sooner than the others.

Sha’Carri Richardson to get the chance to settle the score

In a recent post on X by Rori Dunk, the Jamaican’s decision to compete in the women’s 200m event has been shared. “Shericka Jackson is set to compete in 200m at the Suzhou/Shanghai Diamond League on April 27th“, reads the post accompanied by an image of Shericka, which might send tremors down Sha’Carri’s spine. Richardson decided to skip the 2024 Kip Keino Classic to compete at the Egret Stadium with hopes of bagging her first Diamond League gold but Jackson won’t give her a hall pass without a fight.

With three Diamond League gold medals to her name, Jackson isn’t new to the competition by any means. However, being five years older than Sha’Carri, she will obviously have to put in more effort. With their last few clashes all seeing Shericka coming out on top in 200m events, this year’s Diamond League will be the perfect place to settle the rivalry once and for all.

Two battle-hardened veterans going at each other again and again

The American and the Jamaican have a long history of rivalry, the latest clash happening at last year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest Hungary. In the same 200m event, Jackson came in first with 21.41 on the clock, while Richardson marked her personal best time at the event with 21.92. In last year’s Prefontaine Classic, Shericka once again defeated Richardson in the women’s 200m race.

However, at the World Championships, Sha’Carri showcased her worth as well by clinching the top spot in the 100m event with 10.65 on the clock, while Shericka Jackson came in a close second (10.72). With such a long history between the two, it remains to be seen what transpires at the Asian metropolitan next month and if Sha’Carri can finally even the odds.

Read more: US Olympian Michael Johnson Points Out Why Sha’Carri Richardson’s Jamaican Rival Is “Consistently Great”