Sha’Carri Richardson lashed out at the media in 2022 with an iconic monologue after failing to qualify for the World Championships. The Olympic medalist demanded that athletes be respected and asked questions according to the results they were coming off from.
Richardson made headlines after becoming the fastest collegiate sprinter in 2019 when she won the 100m NCAA title in 10.75s. She easily qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after winning the trials in 10.86s. However, Richardson tested positive for marijuana in the following days and was left out from the Team USA Olympic roster.
The 24-year-old received a one-month suspension and though she raced frequently thereafter, Richardson didn’t look at her best. Following a few victories in early 2022, the LSU alum failed to qualify both in the 100m and the 200m for the World Championships.
After getting eliminated in the first round of the competition, Sha’Carri Richardson avoided the media and didn’t answer any questions. When she failed to qualify in the 200m as well a few days later on 27 June, 2022, the Olympic medalist did address the media but with a long monologue.
“I’m coming to speak, not on just my behalf but on all athletes behalf, that when you guys [reporters] do interviews, you should respect athletes more,” Richardson began. “Y’all should understand them, coming from whether they’re winning, whether they’re losing, whatever the case may be. Athletes deserve way more respect then when y’all just come and throw cameras into their faces,” she said. (via Flo Track)
“Understand how an athlete operates and then ask your questions. Then, be more understanding of the fact that they are still human, no matter the fact that y’all are just trying to get something to put out in an article to make a dollar,” Richardson added.
Richardson had regularly been asked about her doping incident during the press conferences which angered her, and still does.
Sha’Carri Richardson’s Paris Olympics 2024 campaign was bittersweet
Sha’Carri Richardson was among the biggest stars entering the Paris Olympics 2024. The American was the reigning world champion and the fastest woman of the year before the start of the Olympics, and despite losing out on the 100m gold medal, the 24-year-old still holds those titles. What she doesn’t still hold is the spotlight she got before the Olympic Games.
Richardson was the overwhelming favorite for the 100m title at the Paris Olympics. She was the fastest of all the people on the track but a poor execution saw her fail to cross the finish line first in the finals as Julian Alfred won the gold in 10.72s. The world champion settled for silver in 10.87s.
The world champion salvaged her campaign to a large extent in the women’s 4x100m relay. She ran a blistering split to anchor the USA to gold from fourth position in the finals. It also marked Richardson’s maiden Olympic gold medal.
