“Dress good to look good. Look good to feel good. And feel good to run fast!”: in the 1980s, the athletic world danced to this philosophy introduced by none other than Florence Griffith-Joyner, aka Flo-Jo. Her vibrant nails and funky one-legged sprinting suits presented an independent appearance along with her monumental performances on the track. After her last race on October 8, 1988, the community started to search for a similar vibe for an athlete. Many came close, but Sha’Carri Richardson has come closer. Her acrylic nail paints and “I’m that girl” attitude often equate her with the late legend. But after today, the comparison will be far more settled as someone special has adorned Sha’Carri with stunning words. 

In her conversation with the Olympics. com, Jackie Joyner-Kersee explained Sha’Carri’s ‘track persona’ as “I’m the baddest one out here… and this is what you’re going to have to deal with.” And above all, the 24-year-old sprinter stays ‘unapologetic’ while wearing such a mood. Ultimately, this mixture of characters makes her similar to Flo-Jo, who flaunted the same mindset on the track relentlessly. Her appearance in the 1988 Seoul Olympics mesmerized the track and field communities. 

Flo-Jo had a background of doing a part-time job as a beautician. That choice made her display new fashion goals on the track while keeping her athletic form at the top. This maxim followed when she took the 100m dash track in the Seoul Olympics. Flo-Jo graced a hooded running suit and red lipstick with her nails painted patriotic red, white, and blue. She left the field with the 100m Olympic record. Being Flo-Jo’s closest mate, Jackie knows that was the embracing of roots when showing world superiority. And as per her, Sha’Carri Richardson does the same job. 

In backing her takes on SCR, the three-time Olympic champion said, “You know exactly where she’s coming from [and] who you’re dealing with. And then she gets out there and backs it up with her performance.” Notably, Sha’Carri’s recent performance makes her one favorite in earning a gold from the Paris Olympics. Furthermore, as Jackie Joyner-Kersee added, SCR’s knowledge of her roots has sharpened her in these years. Right now, she is a solid form of wisdom and talent. In several moments, the Dallas-born has admitted that reality. 

Sha’Carri Richardson owns the Flo-Jo way, not just in styles 

Sha’Carri Richardson has never been out of pace on the track. But the reality hit her most when she went through the Tokyo Olympics debacle. Her personal loss also made her embrace her roots firmly. In July 2023, Sha’Carri Richardson proved that fact in the US Track and Field Championships. 

On a cloudless day at the track’s pilgrimage place, Hayward Field, she took the 100m track as being the favorite. But she wasn’t there being herself as her wig put on her an extra layer of being some other one. So before starting her race, SCR threw away her wig on the track. She won the race with dominance. But when she was asked about her show- tossing the wig before starting her race, Sha’Carri made some revelation. 

She added, “I want to show you guys that I am still that girl, but I am better. I am still that girl, but I am stronger. I am still that girl, but I am wiser. So I had to shed old and present new.” That new form later earned the World Championship title on the 100m track in Budapest. And straightforward to this year, the reigning continues. Now, Sha’Carri Richardson needs the Olympic gold to climb another step toward Flo-Jo’s height.