Richardson shrugs off ‘marijuana
controversy’ to become world’s fastest women’s 100m runner
American track and field star Shakari Richardson celebrates after winning the women’s 100m final at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, 섯다 on Wednesday.
“The only thing standing in my way was myself.”
Those were the words of American athlete Shakari Richardson, 23, after winning the
women’s 100 meters final (10.76 seconds) at the Doha Diamond League in Qatar in May.
Richardson won the women’s 100-meter final at the Olympic Trials in Doha, Qatar, in May
(10.86 seconds), making her a household name in the United States. However, she was ultimately
cut from the team after it was revealed that she had inhaled marijuana (cannabis) while dealing
with the death of her mother a month before the trials.
“I got the news that my (estranged) mother had passed away right before the trials for the
U.S. track and field team at the Tokyo Olympics,” Richardson said at the time, “and it was very
difficult for me emotionally, and I made that choice (to use marijuana).” In the aftermath of the
publicity, Richardson’s performance suffered, and she failed to qualify for the U.S. team for last year’s World Championships.
Richardson decided to stop putting herself in her own way. “It’s time for me to accept myself and
decide to ‘run with me,'” said Richardson, who refused to be swayed by the naysayers, and returned
to the top of the women’s 100-meter final at the U.S. Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on March
8 with a time of 10.82, followed by a gold medal (10.76) at the Silesian Diamond League in Poland nine days later.
American track and field star Shakari Richardson celebrates after winning the women’s 100m final
at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on May 22.
Richardson also put herself at the top of her game at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest,
Hungary, her first major track and field event. After finishing first in the women’s 100 meters on the
21st (10.92), Richardson won the final on the 22nd (10.65). Richardson was 0.02 seconds off the meet
record (10.67) of defending champion and five-time world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (37-
Jamaica). 온라인섯다 It has been six years since a U.S. female athlete won the 100 meters at a World
Championships since Tori Bowie (deceased) at London 2017.
“My advice to everyone is, ‘Don’t give up, don’t let the media get to you, don’t let other people’s judgment get to you,'” Richardson said in a post-race interview. “I believed in myself, I didn’t let anything get to me, and (as a result) I’m a world champion now,” she said. “My (athletic) journey has just begun,” he added.
Richardson was no stranger to controversy. His disqualification from the U.S. national team in 2021 sparked a social debate in the United States that went beyond the sporting world. While the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) lists marijuana as a banned substance, there is disagreement that it affects running performance, leading some to advocate for Richardson’s participation in the Olympics.
Shakaryn Richardson of the United States reacts after finishing second (10.85) in the women’s 100m at the Grand Prix on June 13, 2018 in New York City, United States.
Richardson has also been at the center of controversy in track and field for her flamboyant fashion. In June of last year, she attracted attention when she ran in a pink fishnet uniform with jewelry on her forehead at the New York Grand Prix in the United States. In the past, Richardson has been known to wear her hair uncomfortably long for running, dye her hair a variety of colors, and sport colorful false nails. Richardson’s fashion, which is rarely seen on the track, was met with mixed reviews among track and field fans.