Sha'Carri Richardson has put the ghost of her previous Olympic suspension to bed in Paris - and even had her fingernails painted with a unique message to mark the occasion.
The 24-year-old sprinter has rallied back impressively from her ban from competition in the 100 meters in Tokyo after she tested positive for THC metabolites in the lead up to those Games . Following that juncture in her career, she fought back to become world champion in Budapest last year.
Upon winning the 100m at the US Championships last summer, she uttered the words: "I'm not back. I'm better". Showing her character as she bounced back from the events in the lead up to the previous Games , it appears that Richardson has stayed true to that mantra in recent times.
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Finally competing at the Games for the first time in her career, the American earned silver in the 100m in Paris to earn her first ever medal at the Olympics . Following on from this, she was central to Team USA's triumph in the 4x100m relay final, as she took the team from fourth place to the gold with her heroics at Stade de France.
Eagle-eyed viewers of Richardson's performances may have noticed that the phrase could even be seen painted on her finger nails too before she completed her redemption arc in the latter event. Explaining the meaning behind the expression, she told Vogue previously: "I don’t just mean I’m a better runner. It’s beyond that. I’m better at being Sha’Carri. I’m better at being myself."
After a rollercoaster past three years, the American's pride was palpable during the medal ceremony after earning the first Olympic gold of her career. She said: "The moment that [I realised] that when we won, the USA ladies, it was a phenomenal feeling for all of us."
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Combined with the talents of fellow U.S. relay runners Gabby Thomas, Melissa Jefferson and Twanisha Terry, Richardson has now etched her name into her nation's history books. Reflecting on the experience, she paid tribute to the spirit within the quartet as she spoke in glowing terms about her compatriots.
She said: "I was very comfortable with this team. I just remember trusting Gabby and knowing that she’s going to put this thing in my hand no matter what. [I wanted to] leave my best on the track."
In a prophetic statement of intent coming into the spectacle in the French capital, the resurgent sprinting superstar admitted that she was relishing the opportunity of competing in her first Olympics . She acknowledged: "It's a full circle moment. I'm super excited to continue to grow and build from this momentum that we've already established here.
"Everything I've been through... to be in this moment right now. There's nothing I've been through that hasn't designed me to sit right here in front of you."
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