Sha'Carri Richardson's Historic World Champion Victory
Shacarri Richardson wins world athletics championship
Photo Credit: Getty Images
By: Joshua Martin
US Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson brought home the trophy dramatically Monday at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. She barely edged ahead to capture the victory in an entertaining women’s 100 meters final. Richardson, who started in the less-than-desirable lane 9, won the gold setting a personal best while simultaneously setting a championship record with 10.65 seconds. That's only .16 seconds behind the world record set by the late great Florence Griffith Joyner. Richardson is currently tied for the title of fifth-fastest woman over 100 meters in history.
Sha’Carri Richardson was FLYING!#WordAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/1A0gTMmjGy
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 21, 2023
The American and Jamaican rivalry was alive and well in the women’s 100 as Jamaican sprinters finished second and third. Olympic bronze medalist Shericka Jackson earned the silver medal in 10.72 seconds. Two-time Olympic gold medalist and the 2022 100-meter champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce claimed the bronze in 10.77 seconds.
“I feel amazing. 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. ”
The 23-year-old has been on pace to become one of the biggest stars on the track but was hit with a one-month suspension in 2021 after testing positive for marijuana. She later expressed that her actions were a result of her mourning her mother. Despite the negativity and push back Sha’carri remained dedicated to her craft and is now a world champion. Richardson shared that running in the outside lane on Monday was symbolic of her determination and focus.
“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 to 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. ”
The World Athletics Championship was her first global event since the Olympics. The 2023 champion is also slated to compete in the 200 meters which will be contested Wednesday through Friday. Sha’Carri has performed extremely well this season, posting a then-world-best time of 10.71 in the 100 meters at the US Championships. The LSU standout is also one of six women in the pool for the 4x100-meter relay team. Richardson continues to break records and boundaries as she is now the first American 100-meter world champion in six years.
A moment Sha'Carri Richardson will never forget! ❤️#WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/klzfP7kmHn
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) August 21, 2023
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