BUDAPEST, HUNGARY - AUGUST 21: Sha'Carri Richardson of the United States celebrating first place competing in 100m Women Final during Day 3 of the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 at the National Athletics Centre on August 21, 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Andy Astfalck/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
Sha’Carri Richardson ran her personal best of 10.65 seconds at the 2023 World Athletics Championships on Monday (Aug. 21) night. Her record earned her the 100-meter title, aligning the champ as a Paris Olympics 2024 contender, per multiple reports.
Footage of the moment shows Sha’Carri Richarson sprinting to the front of lane nine moments before crossing the finish line. In the background, the crowd is heard going wild! She spoke about her win post-race, per CNN.
“I was by myself in my own world, which honestly has been like that all my life. I’ve always been in my own world, my own element, so being in lane 9 was perfect for me to do what it is I know to do and focus more on myself. And when I celebrated, it was because I felt like I did my best no matter what the result was going to be. I felt like I did my best.”
Following the race, Richarson joked with the silver and bronze winners about why the United States hasn’t won gold since 2017. Before Sha’Carri, Tori Bowie secured the title. “Because of you, because of you,” Sha’Carri said while walking alongside her Olympic Jamaican competitors.
Shericka Jackson, an Olympic bronze medalist, earned the silver in 10.72 seconds. Last year’s 100-meter winner, Shelly-Ann-Fraser Pryce, earned the bronze in 10.77. Pryce is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
The win puts Sha’Carri in a much different place than summer 2021. Richardson faced weeks of scrutiny after she was banned from competing for testing positive for cannabis. She had won the 100 meters at US Trials and was expected to compete at Tokyo Olympic Games.
The young champ took full accountability for her actions at the time, stating that she engaged in marijuana use while in mourning for her deceased mother.
Earlier this year, she declared that her recent wins aren’t a comeback. Sha’carri put in the work, and now she’s “better.” Richardson spoke about stepping into her faith after securing the 100m win at the Diamond League in May. She earned the W in 10.76 seconds.
The 23-year-old reiterated the power of her faith following her win at the World Athletics Championships.
“I feel amazing,” the US athlete told Eurosport. “I feel like hard work pays off. I’ve been dedicating myself. I’ve been keeping my faith strong this season and just believing and knowing whatever you practice is what you put forward, and I’m grateful.”
Following Sha’Carri’s win, rapper Plies spoke about her success, alluding that the haters have quickly become fans.
“Sha’Carri Richardson is a prime example how people will write u off in your worse moments. An the minute u get it back poppin. They reappear like they been f***in with u the whole time,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Sha’Carri’s gold win puts her only.16 seconds behind Florence Griffith-Joyner’s record 1988 win. Her race at Monday’s finals marks her first major competition at this level.
Congrats to the new CHAMP!
