Allow Sha’Carri Richardson to reintroduce herself — the American sprinter proved she’s ready to do her thing at the 2024 Paris Games … absolutely leaving her competition in the dust in her Olympic debut!!
The women’s 100-meter dash went down on the purple tracks of Stade de France on Friday … and Richardson breezed by her opponents with a winning time of 10.94 seconds.
Welcome to the Olympic Games, Sha’Carri Richardson! #ParisOlympics
📺 E! and Peacock pic.twitter.com/qxtT9xLALw
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 2, 2024
@NBCOlympics
This massive outing punched her ticket to the semifinal round on Saturday … and after the race, Richardson opened up on what the whole moment meant to her.
“To be at the Olympics is a phenomenal feeling,” Richardson said. “To be an athlete here, competing with the energy here with a great appreciation for track and field, I’m super excited and eager to compete on the Olympics stage.”
Olympic debut in the books. ✅⁰⁰Sha’Carri Richardson is ready to show her talents on the biggest stage. #ParisOlympics
📺 E! and Peacock pic.twitter.com/VEwPNgqy3u
— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) August 2, 2024
@OnHerTurf
Of course, Richardson’s first Olympics experience was derailed … after the 24-year-old Dallas native received a 1-month suspension for testing positive for THC, forcing her out of the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Richardson explained she smoked marijuana after a reporter told her that her mom died right before trials … but she accepted the penalty and vowed to not let it ruin her career.
“At the end of the day, I did make a mistake but that doesn’t take away from my talent,” Richardson said in 2021.
“It doesn’t take away from who I am.”
If Sha’Carri wins the semifinals on Saturday, she’ll then compete for the individual Olympic gold medal later that day.
