Sha'Carri Richardson, representing Team United States, jubilantly celebrates her victory in the Women's 100m Final at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest 2023, held at the National Athletics Centre on August 21, 2023, in Budapest, Hungary. (Image credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for World Athletics)
U.S. sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson raced past tough competition to grab gold in the women’s 100-meter race at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Record-Breaking Performance at World Championships
Sha’Carri ran incredibly fast in just 10.65 seconds, breaking a record for the world championship. She did this even though she started in Lane 9, while other great runners like Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce had better positions to start.
Only Florence Griffith-Joyner has run faster in the 100-meter race, with a world record time of 10.49 that still stands. Sha’Carri’s time puts her as the fifth-fastest woman ever in the 100 meters.
Sha’Carri’s Journey from Olympic Suspension to Gold
Just two years ago, Sha’Carri’s dreams of competing in the Olympics were crushed when she was she tested positive for marijuana and received a suspension. This happened right after she won the 100-meter race at the Olympic trials in 2021, but she couldn’t go to the Tokyo Olympics.
Now, with this amazing performance, she’s back at the top of women’s sprinting, and looking ahead to the 2024 Paris Games.
Semifinal Challenge and Triumph
Sha’Carri’s starting lane in the race was not the best, but she managed to run 10.84 seconds in the semifinal heat after a not-so-great start. She came in third there, with Jackson and Marie Jose Ta Lou from Ivory Coast finishing ahead of her.
Sha’Carri had to wait anxiously to see if the runners in the other semifinal heat had faster times that could have bumped her out of the final race. Fortunately, she made it to the final and made the best of her situation.
The Thrilling Final Race Moment
Sha’Carri’s victory in the final race was a moment of pure emotion. She sent a kiss to the sky while proudly wearing the American flag and her gold medal around her neck. She couldn’t contain her excitement, letting out a triumphant scream.
Previous Victories Leading to World Championship Win
Before this victory, Sha’Carri also won the U.S. championships in the 100-meter race back in July with a time of 10.82 seconds, beating Brittany Brown (10.90) and Tamari Davis (10.99). After that win, she declared, “I’m not back, I’m better.”
