“You should be overconfident; you should have more confidence. I am the greatest, and you should feel that way about yourself, too.” These were the words Sha’Carri Richardson said ahead of the Kip Keino Classic, channeling Kanye West’s words. And that feeling of self-confidence has always been there—case in point: her unique way of celebrating wins. While the track and field world hasn’t witnessed it this year, they have no doubt it’s only a matter of time before they see a new celebration.

Imagine watching a football game. Your team is leading by 10 points, and there are only 30 seconds left to play. Wouldn’t you just know that a win is coming your way? Well, that’s precisely what Sha’Carri Richardson feels like when she knows she will win. Her celebrations start even before she crosses the finish line, making for some of the most striking and fierce victory pictures. With the Paris Olympics getting ever closer, some of Richardson’s iconic celebrations found a place in an Instagram post.

The first picture was after Richardson clinched the first position at the US Olympic Trials in 2021, recording a blistering 10.86s 100m time. But soon after her hyping-up-the-crowd celebration, she was banned from competing for a month after testing positive for THC metabolites. As a result, she lost her chance to represent Team USA in Tokyo. But that only made her want this year’s berth that much more. “I’m not back. I’m better,” remember? The next picture was from her college days.

Sha’Carri Richardson started proving her mettle right from her freshman year at LSU. Running in the 100m in 2019, Richardson stunned everyone by obliterating the NCAA Division I by clocking 10.75s. The next one was her iconic one-handed celebration after winning the women’s 100m heat in Budapest in 2023, where she registered the victory with a time of 10.65s. Her superb celebration from the Miramar Invitational followed suit, where she clocked 10.75s to clinch the pole position.

The last of the images, too, came from Richardson’s participation in Budapest. This time, the shot was from her triumph in the 4x100m relays. But Richardson’s recent performances in the Diamond Leagues at Xiamen and Suzhou have been a tad bit concerning, where she finished second and third, respectively. However, both those events were 200m sprints. So, technically, the reigning 100m world champion doesn’t have much to worry about. At least, not according to Justin Gatlin.

When asked about Sha’Carri’s preparation for the Olympics this year, Gatlin dismissed any concerns the track and field community might’ve had because of her 200m results. He said, “I would say, with her preparation, I’m not too concerned right now because they are 200m.” The clip posted on Instagram further reminded fans that this is Sha’Carri Richardson they’re talking about.

The clip would’ve also reminded fans about what the 24-year-old said after she won the Olympic trials back in 2021. At that time, Sha’Carri was only 21. But that tender age didn’t dampen her confidence because “it’s about who has the heart to get to the finish line,” as she said. After watching some of her iconic finishes, fans were again reminded of her abilities, and they took the time to acknowledge that.

Sha’Carri Richardson is the “epitome of preparing for the win”

One of the track and field enthusiasts expressed intense admiration for Richardson’s extraordinary athletic ability. She mentioned that Sha’Carri’s talent is unparalleled, and watching her on the track is nothing short of an impeccable experience. She wrote, “Seeing her run gives me literal chills wtf. the talent is UNMATCHED.” Interestingly, Sha’Carri herself takes that very humbly. “I’m human, just like you. I just run a lil’ faster,” she once said. Her past struggles have probably instilled that humility in her. She even pointed out that the 2021 suspension made her learn a lot.

“I thank you for teaching me my value before I even knew it existed. I thank y’all for teaching me to live my truth yet understand my future.” Pointing to that, or perhaps just that Sha’Carri managed to look so elegantly powerful in each celebration, one user commented, “She UNDERSTOOD ALL ASSIGNMENTS! 🔥”

The glamorous finishes that Richardson has managed to pull off and her records on the track indeed make her an icon to be admired. Referring to Richardson’s winning moments, one fan considered her the perfect example of self-confidence and belief on the path to success. They wrote, “The epitome of preparing for the win!” highlighting the dedication and readiness that Sha’Carri has to grab victories.

This preparedness probably comes from her standing up for herself and not paying heed to her critics. After qualifying for the 100m semifinals with the fastest time at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, Sha’Carri said clearly, “I’m not worried about the world anymore.” Her extraordinary athletic prowess impressed fans, as one user commented, “Super cool, I’m afraid.”

Expressing endless admiration for Richardson’s athletic excellence, one fan shared, “What an incredible athlete!!!🔥🔥” It is this support and love that has propelled Sha’Carri to reach these heights, and she made no bones about it. “It’s my time to actually do it for myself, and the people that felt like me, and the people that look like me,” she expressed. Armed with the love of such like-minded people, the track and field community could be in for a treat at the Paris Olympics this year.