Sha’Carri Richardson is on a relentless mission to claim Diamond League glory in Brussels, aiming to rebound from a shocking defeat at the Paris Olympics. After dominating the Olympic trials, Richardson was the favorite heading into Paris, but her 10.87-second finish wasn’t enough to secure gold, as Julian Alfred clocked in at a blazing 10.72 seconds. The US sprint queen has since been on a quest for redemption, which she found in Zurich by defeating Alfred to take the top spot. Now, as she prepares for the final showdown, Richardson is determined to further cement her legacy. But there’s one problem— the weather.

A recent video posted by Track & Field Gazette on X showcased Richardson and fellow US athletes Christian Coleman and Brandon Hicklin practicing in Brussels. Fans were quick to point out a significant issue: the track was soaking wet. Continuous rain had left the track with patches of standing water, forcing the athletes to slow down mid-sprint, clearly not going full throttle to avoid injury.

The sight of Richardson practicing on a wet track sparked concerns among fans, especially given her history with rainy conditions. In both Paris and Zurich, Richardson struggled with slow starts in wet conditions, which was a major factor in her Olympic loss. While she managed to overcome the adversity in Zurich by surging in the final stretch, fans are now wondering if the slippery surface in Brussels will once again hinder her explosive speed off the blocks. As the Diamond League final approaches, all eyes will be on Richardson to see if she can conquer the weather and her rivals to claim the gold.

Wet track comes back to haunt Sha’Carri Richardson’s fans ahead of Brussels finale

Sha’Carri Richardson’s fans wanted to see a blitzkrieg performance from their track and field queen. But being aware of her struggles off the blocks, fans are extremely wary of Richardson not being able to give her 100%. Taking to the comments section, the fans voiced their concerns. 

Reflecting concerns about Sha’Carri Richardson’s performance due to the wet track one fan commented, “This rain doesn’t bode well for the top 2, but Dina. This sucks because we were hoping for a record performance.” The netizen’s comment further highlighted the probable reason behind Richardson’s late start. They also added that the rain often affects the performance of the ‘top 2’ which in all probability includes St. Lucian gold medalist Julien Alfred and US star Sha’Carri Richardson. However, it doesn’t affect the performance of Dina Asher-Smith much according to the opinion of the track enthusiast.

Another fan comment, “Dawg the conditions wtf”, brings out the frustration and concern over the poor track conditions at Brussels, which were soaked due to continuous rain. Given Sha’Carri Richardson’s past struggles with wet tracks affecting her speed, especially off the blocks, the fan worries that the slippery surface could once again hinder her performance in the Diamond League finals. 

Fans are worried because Richardson has previously struggled with slow starts on wet tracks, which contributed to her defeat in Paris. The wet conditions could once again hinder her performance, especially during her crucial start, raising fears of injury or a slower race. Thus, another concerned track enthusiast voiced the same concern, “Wet track😕”

The upcoming Diamond League race is scheduled to begin in a few hours. Netizens thus pointed out the unsuitable weather in Brussels. They mention the low 60s temperatures and high humidity. Alongside these, the wet track conditions are making the situation far from ideal for sprinters. Another comment read, “Running is 4-5 hours away. Brussels weather maximum high low 60’s and high humidity but not ideal conditions for sprinters l think you will know later today”.

Another user shared a personal opinion analyzing the techniques and positioning of Sha’Carri Richardson on the track. “Positioning of her spine and lack of lower back/glute activation in blocks explains her struggles. I’ve never looked closely from that angle before”, mentioned the user.

Thus, with high expectations from Sha’Carri Richardson in the final, the fans will be cheering for her to go one-up on Julian Alfred. But staring like a flytrap in broad daylight, the wet conditions at Brussels are ready to play spoilsport. Will Richardson be able to channel her inner champion and blaze through the adversities will be an intriguing prospect to watch out for.