Sha’Carri Richardson’s Worrying Start to Paris Olympics Rings Alarms After Sensational 2023 Season

Sha’Carri Richardson is yet to impress this Olympics season, taking a disappointing third place in the 2024 Shanghai/Suzhou Diamond League meet. If you look at her career trajectory, after missing the Tokyo Olympics, Richardson made the ultimate comeback in Budapest in 2023 by capturing her first world track and field title, so she may be back up to speed by transmuting her glory onto this year as well. One can hope, at least.

Following a near-perfect season last year, the 24-year-old was quickly deemed America’s fastest female sprinter and a favorite for the 2024 Paris Olympics. But her lackluster finishes this year are leaving fans to reflect on her 2023 records, which cemented her place in the track and field scene. But will Richardson bounce back this year? Here’s what her records can promise!

Sha’Carri Richardson has a slight chink in her armor this year

Sha’Carri Richardson was supposed to debut her outdoor season at the Miramar Invitational 2024, where she last made her season’s initial impression. However, she withdrew from the competition days ahead. Richardson instead ran her debut race of the 2024 season at the Xiamen Diamond League, finishing second in the 200m clocking 22.99. The defending 100m world champion admitted to being a ‘little nervous’ to begin the season, but returned today at the 2024 Shanghai/Suzhou Diamond League meet dipping to third place, recording 23.11 behind Great Britain’s sprinters.

Her performances, however, serve as a reminder to the track fraternity of Sha’Carri Richardson’s consistency in winning the 100 and 200 meters throughout 2023. Undeniably, Sha’Carri Richardson’s resume is top-notch for a 24-year-old. According to World Athletics, Richardson is tied for a fourth spot in the world’s top female track and field competitors and 200m category. She is also at the top of the global chart in the 100m with a score of 1,480.

If the best of Richardson’s 2023 highlights are to be considered, she ran the fourth-fastest 100 meters by a woman on April 8, clocking 10.57 seconds at the Miramar Invitational. Next month, she won her first Diamond League in Doha, setting a new meeting record of 10.76 seconds, and she continued her winning streak with her first major individual victory at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, clocking 10.65 seconds. Now, naysayers on the internet believe her off-track commitments are a factor in keeping her from winning.

Are her off-track overtures keeping records away?

With the Summer Games looming into view, track and field athletes have a rigorous schedule, with the first six events of the season lined up concluding in May. Now, along with the primary commitment, Sha’Carri Richardson, who holds multiple sponsorships, was seen promoting Nike, having signed a $20M contract with the brand. Richardson donned a bodysuit, a tank top, and bikini bottoms to unveil the Team USA track and field gear in Paris on April 11, ahead of her Diamond League season training. She was also seen in a short promotional video wearing her Nike fit posted by the Shanghai Diamond League while training. After she quit the Miramar Event, unconfirmed rumors also claimed she left after being rejected a six-figure remuneration for her appearance.

Amid the highly opinionated not-so-Olympic medalist reputation, Sha’Carri Richardson’s “I’m not back, I’m better” mindset takes precedence with everything she puts her mind to and it remains to be seen if Paris will truly be her calling as an Olympic victor.