Former LSU sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson wins heat in Olympic debut

Former superstar LSU sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson made her long-awaited Olympic debut in Paris on Friday morning, and the performance was worth the wait.

Richardson put in a show, winning her qualifying heat with a blazing 10.94 second time in the women’s 100-meter. With that showing, she punched her ticket to the semifinals, which will be held on Saturday.

“To be at the Olympics is a phenomenal feeling, to be an athlete here, competing with the energy, with a great appreciation for track and field,” Richardson said in an interview with NBC after the race. “Great support to be a track and field athlete. I’m super excited and eager to compete on the Olympic stage.”

Richardson qualified for the women’s 100-meter in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but she was ultimately disqualified following a failed drug test for marijuana. Her suspension was lifted before the end of the Games, but she ultimately did not participate.

Now, the 24-year-old is hoping to capture a medal in her top event this time around.

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