Sha’Carri Richardson Misses Chance to Compete in 200m Final at Paris Olympics

Sha'Carri Richardson || Image credit: @itsshacarri

Despite her impressive performance in the women’s 100m final at the Paris Olympics, Sha’Carri Richardson will not be competing in the 200m event.

The 24-year-old sprinter, who secured a silver medal in the 100m, did not qualify for the 200m final after finishing fourth in the U.S. Olympic track trials in June.

Richardson’s Team USA teammate, Gabby Thomas, won the qualifier with a remarkable time of 21.81 seconds, followed by Brittany Brown and McKenzie Long.

Richardson clocked in at 22.16 seconds, just shy of the qualifying mark. As a result, she did not secure a spot in the 200m event at the Paris Olympics but remains eligible for the 4x100m relay.

Thomas, Brown, and Long advanced to the 200m final, with Thomas recording the fastest time of 21.86 seconds in the semi-finals, making her a strong contender for the gold medal.

Richardson, known for her breakout performance in 2019 when she set a collegiate record in the 100m at the NCAA Division I Championships with a time of 10.75 seconds, had a promising start to her career.

She signed a professional contract with Nike after her freshman year at LSU and qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games.

However, a positive test for THC, a chemical found in cannabis, led to her suspension from the 100m event in Tokyo, despite completing a counseling program and accepting a one-month suspension from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

In 2023, Richardson made a comeback, winning gold in the 100m at the World Championships and earning a bronze in the 200m. Her silver medal in the 100m final in Paris marked her first Olympic medal, though she was outpaced by Julien Alfred, who secured St Lucia’s first-ever gold medal.

Following her silver medal finish, Richardson declined to comment extensively to the media but expressed satisfaction when asked about her overall experience.

She will have another opportunity to compete for gold on August 9 in the 4x100m relay, provided Team USA advances to the final.

Richardson’s journey and determination continue to capture attention, as she navigates the highs and lows of her athletic career under the guidance of her coach, former Team USA gold medalist Dennis Mitchell.