Dallas native Sha’Carri Richardson is headed to Tokyo after dominating the 100-meter finals in the women’s U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials on Saturday, June 19.
The 21-year-old earned her spot after completing her race in 10.86 seconds – just a hair slower than her performance in the semifinal heat, where she crossed the finish line in just 10.64 seconds.
Many attribute the slower time to what appeared as Richardson purposely slowing down toward the end of the race and pointing toward the clock, which registered her timing.
After winning the race, instead of running a victory lap, she ran towards the stands to embrace her grandmother, Betty Harp, who’s also known in the family as “Big Momma.”
“To be able to have her here at the biggest meet in my life, and to cross the finish line and run up the steps to hug her knowing I’m an Olympian, actually that’s probably better than winning the race,” Richardson told AP News.
Richardson has also shared in the media that her biological mother passed away the previous week.
“Everybody has struggles, and I understand that,” she said in a post-race interview with ABC. “But y’all see me on this track, and y’all see the poker face I put on. But nobody but [my family] and my coach know what I go through…and I’m highly grateful to them. Without them, there would be no me.”
The Olympic-bound track and field star is already being compared to greats Florence Griffith-Joyner, Richard’s idol, and Gail Devers due to their flamboyant styles and record-breaking speed.
Richardson is now set to represent the U.S. at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo from July 23 to August 8. There she will compete against Jamaican world champion sprinter, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in what is looking to be one of the hottest events at the Olympics.
