Olympic Games Paris 2024

Sha'Carri Richardson secures Olympic spot, claims 100m title at U.S. Trials: 'I cannot wait to go to Paris'

By Nick McCarvel
4 min|
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Picture by 2024 Getty Images

World 100m champion Sha'Carri Richardson has her eye on Olympic gold.

The American sprinting superstar claimed the 100m title at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - track & field on Saturday (22 June) under the lights of Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, clocking a world lead time of 10.71 for the victory.

Richardson, 24, will make her debut next month at Olympic Games Paris 2024. She was the fastest woman in all three rounds in Eugene, showing the confidence she carries after claiming her first world title at Budapest 2023.

Her training mates Melissa Jefferson (10.80) and Twanisha Terry (10.89) rounded out the top three, with each of the women set to race for Team USA in Paris. All three are coached by Dennis Mitchell.

"I feel honoured," Richardson said on NBC. "I feel everything, every chapter that I've been through in my life has designed me for this moment. "

"To stand here with these amazing women who I have the pleasure of sharing this moment with, who I train with... it's a full-circle moment, I'm appreciative," she sadded. "I cannot wait to go to Paris and represent."

Richardson went up into the stands and hugged her grandmother and aunt, who have been pivotal in her life on and off the track.

She was shaky out of the blocks in all three rounds, including a stumble in her opening heat on Friday (21 June). But Sha'Carri finished each of those three races exactly where she - and many others - expected: In first.

It's a testament, she said, to the work she's put in over the last three years: "I feel like it definitely confirms the year that we've been training for," she told reporters. "[We've been] preparing for this moment."

Sha'Carri Richardson: 'Tonight was a full-fledged, surreal moment for me'

Richardson let the emotions flow after she crossed the line first, thumping her chest with her hands and then roaring at the crowd after she fought back tears. She then joined Jefferson and Terry, her Florida-based teammates, for an on-track celebration.

It's a debut Olympics for all three women.

"It just was a matter of trusting the process," said Terry, who ran under 11 seconds for the first time all season with her 10.89 having faced a thigh injury for much of the year. "[I've had to] trust in my coach, trust in my teammates... I relied heavily on my support circle: Those that trained me; those outside of training."

Terry got the lean over Tamari Davis (10.91) and Aleia Hobbs (10.93), who finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Richardson said the emotion was one of joy after realising what she had accomplished: "Mentally and emotionally [I have] grown into the mature young lady that I am today and I'm going to continue to grow into," she said. "[Tonight] was a full-fledged, surreal moment for me [that I] actually embrace... and I was able to show to the world myself on the track today."

Richardson actually slowed up at the finish, still clocking that 10.71. Internationally, only St. Lucia's Julien Alfred can come close to matching that this season, lodging a 10.78 earlier this month.

Next stop? Paris.

"I would definitely say the message I would say now, is, 'believe in yourself,' no matter what outside noise is going on, remain solid in yourself," a reflective Richardson said.

"And not just yourself, your faith. Those are two things that will never change, as long as you don't change. So stay grounded in yourself and work hard every day that you go out."

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