An unfortunate disqualification from the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games abruptly ended Sha’Carri Richardson‘s Olympic dreams. But she was looking forward to turning things around in the French capital tonight. The entire nation’s hopes rested on the sprinter’s shoulders as she stepped onto the purple tracks for the 100m semi-finals. No American has claimed a victory in the event since Gail Devers since 1996; Richardson has her sights set on the prize.

Even though many fans were looking forward to the iconic Jamaica vs. USA rivalry, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was a DNS. While many thought Richardson would be a shoo-in here, Julien Alfred proved to be a thorn in her side. While she stunned fans at the U.S. Olympic Trials despite a slow start, she couldn’t replicate the same result this time around and had to settle for a second place behind the Saint Lucian. However, her quest for gold still continues, as she will be making it to the finals on August 4.

After being denied entry into the venue earlier today, the American sprinter was later spotted in the warmup area. As she stepped onto the track, the ‘I’m not back, I’m better’ sprinter seemed to be the favorite for an easy qualification. However, as the gun went off, it wasn’t the 24-year-old, but St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred, who left all her competitors in the dust. Her impressive time of 10.84 seconds also happened to be the fastest time in the semis. But the American wasn’t too far behind and trailed after 10.89 seconds.

This wouldn’t be the first time Sha’Carri Richardson has had an awkward start. During the women’s 100m heats at the iconic Hayward Field, the 24-year-old stumbled past the start line in round one. However, she reeled it in and went on to claim an easy win with 10.88 seconds on the clock. “[I] definitely didn’t have the start that I have been training for this moment. But still, not panicking, staying patient. And knowing that no matter what’s going on, to continue to run my race,” she stated in a post-race interview.

Refusing to let go of her Olympic dreams, the sprinter pulled herself back up at the semi-finals with a stellar time of 10.86 seconds on the clock. The only thing standing between her and the French capital. But she persevered and stunned everyone by blazing her way to the finish line in 10.71 seconds. Her Star Athletics teammates Melissa Jefferson and Twanisha Terry trailed behind her in 10.80 seconds and 10.89 seconds, respectively.

Sha’Carri Richardson’s successful Olympic debut in the French capital

While the American track icon couldn’t represent her nation in the Japanese capital, she made her presence known in the 100m heats at the Stade de France. The fastest woman this year had already turned heads at the U.S. Olympic Trials by earning a second chance with 10.71 seconds on the clock. However, she wanted to make sure she kept that momentum going in the French capital, and her chance was finally here. The 100m heats were set to commence on August 2.

As the gun went off, Richardson swiftly made her way to the finish line in an impressive 10.94 seconds. She truly had made a statement, and she continued on to the semi-finals as the one to look out for. What made it even more interesting was that her time was the fourth-fastest overall. Trailing behind her was Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith with 10.87 seconds, and Jamaica’s hope, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who clocked in 10.92 seconds on the clock. Sha’Carri Richardson will now contest the finals at the Stade de France. Will she be able to claim an Olympic gold as her own?