Ahead of Florence Griffith Joyner, US Star Sha’Carri Richardson Secures a Huge Milestone at the Age of 23

In 1988, Florence Griffith Joyner achieved the impossible. Joyner, who is fondly recalled as Flo-Jo, surpassed her competitors by clocking in at 10.49 seconds on the 100-meter tracks. The athlete’s recorded time is the all-time fastest record, which remains untouched even after 35 years. Flo-Jo even holds the fastest time in the 200-meter record by finishing the race in 21.34 seconds at the 1988 Olympics.

However, now, years later, a new rising track and field sensation is making her name in the rankings and is expected to break the next-to-impossible record. Sha’Carri Richardson, who has grabbed the attention of the world after her 10.65 win at the World Athletics Championships, has already broken one record of Flo-Jo on the track in Budapest this year. And recently, another staunch achievement of Sha’Carri Richardson that puts her ahead of Flo-Jo has come to light.

Staunch achievement of track and field star

On September 13, Track and Spice posted yet another achievement by Sha’Carri Richardson on X. According to the tweet, “Sha’carri Richardson is the second athlete to run sub 10.74 before the age of 24.” The 23-year-old athlete has a top-10 career average of 10.74 in 100m with a personal best of 10.65 at the 2023 World Athletics. While in the 200m, the athlete carries a top 10 average of 22.11 on the 200m tracks with a personal best of 21.92.

Richardson is the second youngest athlete to achieve the 10.7 sub followed by Flo-Jo who secured this achievement at the age of 28. However, Marion Jones-Thompson still remains the youngest athlete to achieve this staunch win at the age of 22.

Sha’Carri Richardson began her 10.7 sub wins in the 2021 USATF Golden Games after clinching three back-to-back 10.7 wins at the Hilmer Lodge stadium. Richardson also secured her then-fastest time by clocking a time of 10.74 seconds at the event. However, in 2023, she came back stronger.

The 23-year-old started her season by securing a new personal best of 10.71 seconds. The athlete has now joined the list of the world’s fastest women at the 2023 World Athletic Championship with a new personal best of 10.65 seconds. She even managed to break track and field legend Flo-Jo’s record at her historic race.

Sha’Carri Richardson breaks Flo-Jo’s  record

At this year’s 100m World Final, Sha’carri Richardson was not only able to clinch her first World Championship title but also break a historic record set in 1988. The athlete, with her 10.65-second victory, surpassed Florence Griffith Joyner’s 10.70-second sprint on the tracks of Budapest and etched her name in athletics history. However, Joyners’ 100m and 200m still remain intact.

Also read: Sha’Carri Richardson’s Jamaican Rival Shericka Jackson Writes Her Name in History Books After Creating 21.48 Second Storm at Brussels Diamond League 2023

Nonetheless, Sha’Carri Richardson’s recent success on tracks has certainly put Flo-Jo’s 100-meter records at risk. As track and field enthusiasts await Richardson to break the record at the Diamond League finals this week, After clinching the win at the Zurich Diamond League under 10.88, the athlete is set to join Team USA for the finals held from September 16–17 in Oregon.

In essence, from breaking historic records to achieving staunch milestones at the age of 23, the rise of Sha’Carri Richardson continues. And with such resilience and determination, the track and field star will most likely break many more records on the 100-meter track in the future.

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