Sha’Carri Richardson might be of small stature, but the responsibility she carries for the USA is towering. The reigning women’s 100m world champion is the favorite to win gold at the event at the upcoming Paris Olympics, and she’s been proving her worth for months leading up to the Games. However, for those who’ve known her from an early age, Sha’Carri’s greatness was never off the table.

In an article by Vogue from a couple of days ago, the words of Lauren Cross, Richardson’s high school coach, notes how the 24-year-old has always been fixated on making a name for herself. Cross revealed how the sprinter’s performances caught people’s attention even during her teenage years, giving signs of something truly spectacular waiting for her in the coming days. “To be that good, that young, you realize as a coach that you’re dealing with someone exceptional,” Cross said.

“She had passion, she had brains, she was the whole package,” Lauren said about how self-discipline helped the Dallas native navigate her way through the demanding world of track and field. The Carter High School track coach went on to claim that many young prodigies fail to earn their place simply because they lack the dedication to amplifying their speed in every possible way, while Sha’Carri “was totally determined“.

Having Richardson in her team also helped Cross build one of the most successful track programs in the city, while the sprinter continued to smash state records at her will. “With her being as phenomenal as she was, as talented as she was, it was easy to build a program,” Lauren said in another interview with Advocate Mag earlier this year.

In the interview, Cross also mentioned how Sha’Carri set a high standard for everyone who would come after her, and the coach had to deal with the high expectations. “I explained to some of them that everybody’s not going to be Sha’Carri,” Cross made it clear to her newer students who signed up for her camp following Sha’Carri’s success in professional track and field. And yet, as Sha’Carri waits to seal her place among the icons of the sport, the Dallas ISD remains the stone upon which her church was built.

Sha’Carri Richardson put Oak Cliff on the track map

“Sha’Carri is a representation of each and every girl to step on this track. All the foundation starts here on this track,” said Cross to North West Georgia News in an interview from May this year. Cross also couldn’t forget how Sha’Carri, despite being much smaller compared to many of her opponents during high school, always tried to lead by example as she went toe-to-toe with the big girls without ceding ground. Cross’ former student became such a big part of the community that in 2023, Dallas decided to name one of its ISD tracks after Richardson. Following the news, Sha’Carri took to social media to express her gratefulness for being honored in such a way: “I’m literally speechless,” she wrote in a social media post.

“She couldn’t believe that they would rename a track after her and I explained to her, it’s definitely earned,” Lauren said about she never felt that Richardson was being given something she didn’t deserve. Lauren’s faith in Sha’Carri was bolstered one more time last month when the former traveled to Eugene, Oregon to watch the latter secure a place in Team USA after a blistering showcase at the Team Trials.

Will the fondess only grow larger come the Olympics? Only time will tell.