Sha'Carri Richardson on aiming for Olympic gold at Paris 2024: 'Track is my life'

The fastest woman in the world this year, Sha'Carri Richardson, looks out from the August cover of Vogue magazine, daring the reader to even think she's not going to win gold in the women's 100m at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

A gold dress billowing out behind her, the gaze suggests confidence is so high the American could still win at her debut Olympic Games, even wearing said gown, including the drag of the fabric.

The 25-year-old now feels like she's come into her own, both on and off the track, with the editorial accompanying the feature in Vogue magazine, confirming the cover photo's vibe.

"I’m better at being Sha’Carri," she said. "I’m better at being myself."

Confidence was not always so high.

Ahead of Tokyo 2020, in 2021, the Texan was in scintillating form but her shot at an Olympic athletics title was curtailed after her qualifying result at the US trials was scrapped due to testing positive for a chemical found in marijuana.

Richardson accepted a one-month suspension "for an anti-doping rule violation for testing positive for a substance of abuse", which included the period of the Tokyo Games, dealt with it privately, and moved on.

Nine-time Olympic gold medallist Carl Lewis, now a Texas-based coach who won titles in 100m sprint, 4x100m relay and long jump from Los Angeles 1984 to Atlanta 1996, has seen the changes himself, as he told Olympics.com at the UK Athletics Championships and Olympic Trials in June, where he was coaching breakthrough British sprinter, Louie Hinchcliffe.

"Last year she looked to me like she'd settled in," said Lewis. "A little bit older, more mature, and understands herself better, and it's really nice to see the evolution as a person, and how she presents herself and the energy, and I think that's why she's winning.

"I think she's more focused and I don't think there's anyone faster than her. I mean if she runs her race, no one is going to beat her right now."

Two Jamaicans are among those who will beg to differ. Sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will compete at her fifth and final Games in the women’s 100m, alongside Shericka Jackson, who is targeting her first individual Olympic gold in both the 100m and 200m.

All three will be chasing the world record held by Florence Griffith Joyner in the women’s 100m of 10.49 seconds.

The two nations will also be vying for the Olympic title in the 4x100m relay, which starts 8 August.

• Breakout star Sha'Carri Richardson: How the 100m world champion reinvented herself

Sha'Carri Richardson on how to run fast

Richardson herself has a pragmatic response as to what the secret is to running fast.

"Just keep showing up," she said, "no matter what.

"Most people, they only think of track every four years. The Olympics, that’s all there is—those few seconds on TV. But for me, track is my life on a day-to-day basis. Everything I do—what I eat, what I drink, if I stay up too late—it’s all reflected on the track. Every choice. That’s what the world doesn’t see.”

The world definitely will soon see the result of the hard work taking place behind the scenes from the former college athlete.

The 2023 world champion in the 100m and 4x100m takes to the track for round one of the women's 100m at the iconic Stade De France on Friday 2 August.

“Every time you step on the track, it’s a validation of the time you’ve put in, the sacrifices you make on the daily,” Richardson told Vogue. “When I get on the blocks, it’s about getting the job done.

"I know there’s joy at the other end, at the finish line. But I also know I’ve got to earn that happiness.”

Richardson served a one-month suspension in 2021 after testing positive for cannabis during the U.S. trials. Cannabis is a banned substance per World Anti-Doping Agency rules.