Sha’Carri Richardson sprinted her way to the top. Quite literally! She wasn’t joking when she proclaimed, “I’m not back, I’m better.” Guiding the United States 4x100m relay team to gold at the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest and successfully claiming the fastest woman in the world title are some of her recent highlights. But Richardson’s story started long ago.

As the 2023 Diamond League approaches its conclusion, Richardson is gearing up to get more accolades in her bag. The 23-year-old athlete has honed her skills and paid homage to her roots. As the applause for her achievement swelled, an unexpected memory flooded her thoughts; one that she chose to share exclusively with her fans.

Sha’Carri Richardson reminisces old memory

Sha’Carri Richardson won three medals in a star-studded competition in Budapest. Her 100m world record was in action while classes took place in Oak Cliff’s Carter High School. Nostalgia hit Richardson, who was on her way when a fan’s jacket caught her attention. Richardson posted a story on Instagram of a girl wearing the exquisite double bold detailed ‘OakCliff Texas’ design at the back of the denim jacket.

With a hand-heart emoji, she captioned the story, “In me, not on me.” Sha’Carri Richardson is a Carter High School alum. So it’s not surprising the jacket caught her attention. Her fan also donned Richardson’s distinctive long braided hair.

People who knew the athlete before she became a well-known name were rooting for Richardson. That 10.65 seconds sprint that she took to win the 100m dash in Budapest fell in the middle of De’Anna Watson’s English class. She was Sha’Carri Richardson’s track coach at Carter.

The 23-year-old athlete went from having her Olympic ambitions crushed in 2021 to reaching the pinnacle of her profession today. Seeing this left her high school coach in tears.

How did Sha’Carri Richardson’s high school coach react to her win?

Just minutes after the thrilling record-making victory, NBC 5 reached out to Sha’Carri’s coach at Carter High School in Dallas for an interview.

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Recalling the memorable moment during her record, the former coach said, “It made me tear up a little bit just because I wanted this so bad for her. And I know she wanted it. She really wanted it. She’s been wanting this for years.”

Carter’s assistant track coach is Watson. Prior to her name change, Richardson knew her as Coach Jones. She further taught the athlete in first-year English class and said, “She made herself known. She spoke out in class.”

Sha’Carri Richardson is still in touch with her former coach. There is a seven-hour time difference between Budapest and Dallas. Richardson’s text message to her high school coach arrived only in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. “I love you back. And thank you,” the text read.

Richardson’s terrific season will be wrapped up with one more Diamond League competition this year: Eugene, Oregon, on September 16–17.