Sha’Carri Richardson has officially secured her Olympic berth, proving that every setback is a setup for a comeback! Despite the challenges she faced in 2021, the 24-year-old sprinter surged to victory at the track and field team trials on Saturday, June 22, earning her spot for the Paris Olympics. But Richardson’s journey to qualification was an uphill battle, but she crossed the finish line triumphantly in the women’s 100-meter dash, setting a world-leading time of 10.71 seconds.

Despite her career gaining traction, Sha’Carri Richardson faced her share of insecurities, rejection, and setbacks, but she weathered the storm. While her grandmother and aunt, have been pillars of support since childhood, little has been said about Sha’Carri Richardson’s biological mother. Now the big question arises who is Sha’Carri Richardson’s biological mother?

The untold story of Sha’Carri Richardson’s mother’s passing

Sha’Carri Richardson,24, was born in Dallas. However, Richardson didn’t have a relationship with her biological parents as she faced rejection from her mother since childhood. Instead, she was raised by her grandmother, Betty Harp, and aunt Shayaria Richardson, whom she calls her mother. But details about her mother came to know after trials in Tokyo 2020.

In 2021, Richardson emerged as a top contender in the women’s 100 meters at the Olympics after blazing through the U.S. Olympic trials with a time of 10.86 seconds. However, her victory was overshadowed when a post-race drug test revealed THC, the primary compound in cannabis, in her system. Hence, was banned from the Olympics in 2021.

Sha’Carri Richardson, then 21 years old, disclosed that she had turned to marijuana after receiving the news of her biological mother’s death, just days before the trials began that is before 30th July 2021. Despite the setback, she expressed to pursue her dreams, stating, “Last week finding out my biological mother passed away and still choosing to pursue my dreams, still coming out here and still making sure to make the family that I do still have on this earth proud.” Richardson did not provide further details about her mother’s passing.

She continued, “The fact that nobody knows what I go through, everybody has struggles and I understand that. But y’all see me on this track and y’all see the poker face I put on. Only my family and my coach know what I go through on a day-to-day basis, and I’m highly grateful for them,” Richardson said. “She also said this about her mother. ‘I want to thank her for bringing me into this world. I respect her and love her. I know she loves me.” But still, she was banned, which started on June 28, 2021, and ended on July 27. However, her childhood wasn’t easy without her mother.

Who filled Richardson’s mother’s place and how?

Sha’Carri Richardson’s aunt once shared that the 24-year-old always found solace in running, using it as an escape from her troubled past. “I was always asking myself what was wrong with me…why is it that she never wanted to be with me? My mother not wanting to be around me made me believe that nobody ever wanted to be around me,” Richardson said. She mentioned that the presence of her grandmother and aunt motivated her to strive for success and reach a level where she could compete alongside the sprinters globally. Despite their support Richardson still sensed an emptiness that remained unfilled within her.

In high school, she faced a dark moment, contemplating suicide during her junior year, only narrowly surviving. Since then, her aunt and grandmother have been there for her. Despite their constant presence, Sha’Carri Richardson struggled with trust, once asking her aunt, “Are you going to leave me too?” Her aunt reassured her, promising she would always have a family. This assurance was transformative for Richardson, who, despite lingering uncertainties, chose to embrace her aunt’s words and continue forward, knowing that she had a family who would stick by her through thick and thin!