Sha’Carri Richardson has ridden the storm and came back even stronger. When the Louisiana State University alumna broke the 100m record at the NCAA as a freshman, many expected her career to follow a straightforward path leading to an Olympic medal. While she eventually achieved that Olympic dream, the journey was far from simple. After qualifying for her first-ever Olympics in 2020, she tested positive for cannabis, leading to a one-month suspension by USADA and causing her to miss the flight to Tokyo. Her return to the track at the Prefontaine Classic saw her finishing at the bottom of the 100m race with a time of 11.14 seconds.

When she returned in 2023, she delivered a series of strong performances, culminating in her victory at the World Championships in Budapest in the 100m category with a time of 10.65 seconds. She claimed to have come back as a better athlete. As a result, when she qualified for the Paris Olympics, many considered her a favorite for the gold in the 100m. However, she secured only a silver, as Julien Alfred from Saint Lucia took gold with a time of 10.72 seconds, compared to Richardson’s 10.87. Naturally, this was a disappointment for her. But with the 4×100 relay still ahead, she had to quickly refocus—and it’s safe to say she did just that. She anchored the U.S. team to a gold medal, finally quenching her thirst for Olympic gold. When she received the medal on the podium, she became quite emotional, something she later spoke about in an interview.

Sha’Carri Richardson was embracing her journey on the podium

In an interview, Sha’Carri Richardson opened up about the reason she got emotional, “Getting emotional on the podium, that was not a plan, that was not scripted [laughs]. I would honestly say that moment was just a full circle moment, just embracing everything, not even including what had happened in the general moment to make it on the podium, but just embracing the entire journey of being just a human and growing, not even just as an athlete, but as a woman, as a spirit.”

She continued, “It’s almost like one plus one equaling two. I was just embracing those two things at that moment to show that this is literally only the beginning. But I’m so grateful that this is the beginning, because, literally, there’s nothing but up from here.” Richardson has always been seen as a bold and headstrong woman who has never been afraid to confront anyone or anything. But, fans who have followed her journey know that it took a lot for her to reach that podium. Her career has always been filled with controversies and problems.

Sha’Carri Richardson’s public controversies that took a toll on her

Sha’Carri Richardson has faced a lot of criticism throughout her career, much of it unwarranted. Her track style, inspired by Florence Griffith Joyner, earned her recognition early on. Richardson is also very self-confident and doesn’t shy away from showing it. This was evident when she looked at her opponent in the 4×100 meter relay just before crossing the finish line—a moment that will likely go down as one of the most iconic in Paris. However, this confidence has also drawn criticism, with some labeling her as arrogant.

The number of critics grew significantly after she was suspended from participating in the Tokyo Olympics. Social media trolls were rampant, and her controversies didn’t stop there. In 2023, Richardson was escorted off an American Airlines flight after an argument with a flight attendant, which only fueled the online trolling further. It reached a point where she felt compelled to ask her fans on Instagram to correct her in a respectful manner. It was a very tough time for the athlete. But tough times don’t last forever, and Richardson is a testament to that. No matter what happens from here on, she will always be an Olympic gold medalist.