A revenge game? An Olympic rematch? The fans had been ready to ornament the women’s 100m event in the Diamond League final in Brussels with those words. But in the end, the penultimate game catapulted the show and left space for several questions. One of those is grueling—is Sha’Carri Richardson’s starting technically weak? 

Today, in the King Baudouin Stadium, she was set to draw the curtain on her track season memorably. The stage was also set as in the opponents’ block with Julien Alfred, Dina Asher-Smith, and Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith lined up against her. However, the American sprinter failed to stand up to her fans’ expectations. After registering a fiery finish (10.84 seconds) at the Zurich Diamond League, the fitting end could have been to go for a shorter time in the final. But today, she claimed a disappointing 8th-place finish. 

While Julien Alfred committed no mistake in holding her nerve throughout the race, Richardson lost her momentum at the initial stage. Later, she slowed down further, dismissing any hope of entering the top 3. As a result, the 24-year-old ended her race, taking 0.35 seconds more than the table topper, Alfred. However, a slow start has always been Richardson’s Achilles heel. But this time, her fair play paved the way for facing severe criticism from the track sports lovers. 

One such fan commented, “Sha’Carri is probably the worst elite sprinter off the blocks. Just terrible technically when starting.” However, before the race, the reigning world champion could be seen practicing the start with Christian Coleman on the track. While the latter has always been counted among the best when it comes to a rapid start, the impact of the joint session was missing in SCR’s performance today. 

Since the gun went off, Sha’Carri Richardson started slow, stumbled, and in the end, she almost gave up. While Julien Alfred and Dina Asher-Smith were in a relentless battle at the finishing line, the American sprinter could be seen away from the pack without caring about her rank. Was that because of tiredness? However, the X-handle, Track Spice, claimed, “One thing about Sha’carri Richardson, once she realizes she’s going to finish 3rd or worse, she will almost always slow down completely to finish last or second last.” The track and field community was also ready to chime in on the topic. 

Fans claim Sha’Carri Richardson “lacks determination and discipline”

Among the followers, someone echoed Track Spice’s comment on Sha’Carri Richardson’s situation. The comment goes out, “SCR stopped trying when she realised she couldn’t win. No champion’s mentality.” However, today’s performance is bound to remind the women’s 200m Olympic trial event. There as well, Sha’Carri Richardson looked to be off-footed at the finishing line, missing the chance to enter the list of top three sprinters. So this problem may need a speedy addressing. 

As per the fans, only her coach may give her the necessary tips on the issue. But the consensus is to change the fold, leaving the Star Athletics behind and recruiting a new coach who can change her mentality. A follower quickly quipped, “Told yall Something is wrong with shacarri mentally, desperately need a coaching change ASAP”. Meanwhile, someone went deeper, comparing her with Julien Alfred. 

Despite facing a defeat one week ago, Alfred did not lose her mojo. Rather, she claimed her victory in the star-studded field today. That determination should be reflected in SCR as well. Reminding that point, a fan argued, “Shacarri is still the most talented, but lacks determination and discipline which Alfred seems to have in abundance.” But it is still about a slow start, which ate the Olympian’s chance today. 

So someone rightfully noted, “Sha’carri and those bad starts.” However, it will be a time-bound factor to see the sprinter presenting a fiery start on the track. But at the end of the current season, Julien Alfred is running ahead of her with a 3-2 scoreline.