Sha'Carri Richardson Makes Epic Debut at the Olympics After Suspension
Originally appeared on E! Online
Sha'Carri Richardson definitely brought the heat to Paris.
The Team USA track and field star made her Olympic debut Aug. 2 at the 2024 Paris Olympics, three years after being suspended before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when she tested positive for marijuana.
Sha'Carri proved her weight in gold when she won her heat during the first round of the women’s 100 meter sprint with a time of 10.94 seconds. The 24-year-old—who now qualifies for the 100m semi-finals Aug. 3—may become the first American woman to win gold in the event during its finals on the same day since Gail Devers in 1996.
While Sha'Carri set the track on fire with her athletic skills, she did it while looking fashionable. Donning a lavender pin-striped ensemble, she styled her waves in a ponytail and opted for a long, colorful stiletto nail. Because, like many athletes competing in France, she loves winning in style. For the runner, her inspiration came from the late Florence Griffith-Joyner, who also competed in iconic outfits with vibrant nails.
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“Flo-Jo came to the track and knew she was going to dominate,” she told the Associated Press in 2021. “The way she did that was graceful. I always liked that. If the amazing Flo-Jo had long nails, there was no excuse why I couldn’t have long nails.”
But less than a month later, Sha'Carri was not selected for the roster of athletes set to compete in Japan. Despite winning the 100 meter race during the Olympic trials, she was suspended after testing positive for THC, which violated the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code. And USA Track & Field was firm on the decision, saying that she would not be given a shortened suspension so she could compete later that summer.
Hours after the news broke, Sha'Carri owned up to her actions and gave insight into her decision.
"I know what I did, I know what I'm supposed to do, I know what I'm allowed not to do, and I still made that decision,” she said on Today in 2021. “I’m not making any excuses, and I’m not looking for any empathy in my case.”
She explained learning from a reporter that her biological mom passed away one week before the Olympic trials sent her into a state of emotional panic.
"It's definitely triggering," Sha'Carri reflected, adding that she was "blinded by emotions, blinded by bad news, blinded by just hurting." Unable to cope the night before such a career-changing race, she thought, "At least in some type of way, I was trying to hide my pain."
And before the Games, she made an oath to be back three years later.
She wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter in July 2021, “I’m sorry, I can’t be y’all Olympic Champ this year but I promise I’ll be your World Champ next year.”
Now, keep reading for more incredible moments at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Aug. 1: Gymnastics
USA gymnast Simone Biles beams after winning gold in the women's all-around final, sporting her "GOAT" necklace.
Aug. 1: Tennis
Great Britain's Andy Murray—who announced his retirement before the Paris Games—tearfully bids farewell to the crowd after being eliminated alongside Dan Evans in the men's doubles.
Aug. 1: Table Tennis
Tomokazu Harimoto of Team Japan lets off some steam during his match against China's Fan Zhendong.
Aug. 1: Swimming
Men's 200m backstroke silver medalist Apostolos Christou of Greece gets emotional while standing on the podium.
Aug. 1: Tennis
Spanish tennis Carlos Alcaraz lets out a victorious scream after defeating Tommy Paul of Team USA in men's single.
July 31: Diving
Great Britain's bronze medalists Andrea Spendolini Sirieix and Lois Toulson share a raw moment after the women's synchronized 10m platform diving final.
July 31: Soccer
Korbin Albert gets emotional after scoring a goal in the women's soccer game.
July 31: Swimming
Team Sweden's Sarah Sjoestroem celebrates her gold medal in the Women's 100m Freestyle Final.
July 31: Swimming
Team USA's Katie Ledecky reacts to winning gold in the Women's 1500m Freestyle Final.
July 31: Swimming
French swimmer Anastasiia Kirpichnikova cries tears of joy after seeing her silver medal-winning time in women's 1500m freestyle event.
July 31: Judo
Serbia's Nemanja Majdov (L) and Greece's Theodoros Tselidis (R) share a moment after their round in the men's 90kg round of 16 in judo. Tselildis, who beat Majdov, later won the bronze medal.
July 31: Sabre
Manon Apithy-Brunet (L) kisses her husband France's Bolade Apithy after his team beat Egypt.
July 31: Triathalon
Gold medalist Alex Yee of Team Great Britain and silver medalist Hayden Wilde of Team New Zealand share a subtle celebratory moment after crossing the finish line.
July 31: Rugby
Team New Zealand leaps for joy after beating Canada in the Women's Rugby Sevens Gold medal match.
July 31: Field Hockey
Agustina Gorzelany of Team Argentina celebrates her team's first goal in a match against Spain. Argentina ended up winning the match 2-1.
July 31: Shooting
Team Guatemala's Adriana Ruano Oliva gets emotional after realizing she's won the gold medal—her country's very first—in the shooting trap women's final.
July 30: Tennis
Andy Murray and Dan Evans of Great Britain embrace in celebration after besting Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen of Team Belgium in Men's Doubles second round match.
July 30: Swimming
Great Britain's Tom Dean celebrates, along with fellow teammates, after his win in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay.
July 30: Gymnastics
Simone Biles expresses elation after securing the gold medal for Team USA in the women's gymnastics team final, making her the most decorated gymnast in history.
July 30: Gymnastics
Team Italy reacts after finishing the women's gymnastics all around team final with a silver medal.
July 30: Tennis
Coco Gauff listens to a call made against her during a July 30 match against Croatia's Donna Vekic. The controversial line correction ended the tennis champion's run in the 2024 Olympics.
July 30: Tennis
Jasmine Paolini reacts during her match with Slovakia's Anna Karolina Schmiedlova. She lost the match, exiting the games.
July 30: Pistol Shooting
Serbian sports shooter Zorana Arunovic kisses her gold medal—her first time medaling in the sport after competing in London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
July 29: Gymnastics
Kazuma Kaya and the rest of Team Japan celebrate after earning a gold medal for the artistic gymnastics men's team final. They were followed by Team China with silver, and Team USA with bronze.
Watch the 2024 Paris Olympics daily on NBC and Peacock until the summer games end with the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
