Sha’Carri Richardson Responds After Slow Season Opener With Powerful Message

Sha'Carri Richardson has to overcome a woeful season opener. (Credit: Imago)

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Sha'Carri Richardson breaks silence after woeful season opener. (Credit: Imago)

Sha’Carri Richardson Responds After Slow Season Opener With Powerful Message

Stephen Awino 09:03 - 03.06.2025

After a disappointing season opener in Tokyo, Sha’Carri Richardson broke her silence with a fearless message.

After a whirlwind 2023 and a historic showing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Sha’Carri Richardson was expected to set the track ablaze once again in 2025.

But when Richardson opened her season in Tokyo on May 18, fans were met with a shock as she placed fourth in the 100 meters at the Tokyo Golden Grand Prix with a time of 11.47 seconds.

The time was well below her personal best of 10.65 seconds from the 2023 World Championships in Budapest and her Olympic silver medal winning time of 10.87 seconds.

Richardson's Tokyo race left many of the sprint queen's concerned.

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The world champion appeared sluggish out of the blocks as ustralia’s Bree Rizzo won the race in 11.38 seconds, followed by Richardson’s U.S. teammate Twanisha "TeeTee" Terry in second with 11.42 seconds.

It was far from the Richardson used to being explosive, confident, and dominant.

Richardson Responds

Sha'Carri Richardson
Sha'Carri Richardson responds after underwhelming season opener. IMAGE: USA Relay Sports

But true to her style, Richardson let the world know exactly where her mind is. On June 1, two weeks after her underwhelming opener, she broke her silence with a bold message posted on X:

“June is here and I truly have no fear for the rest of the year🙏🏽!”

That single sentence was all it took to shift the conversation. It wasn’t just a caption, it was a promise and a declaration that despite a rocky start, Sha’Carri isn’t going anywhere.

Richardson's History of Overcoming Hurdles

Sha'Carri Richardson
Sha'Carri Richardson has overcome hurdles before.

The track star who missed the Tokyo Olympics due to suspension and then came roaring back with a world title and Olympic medals knows how to rebound.

Richardson has been counted out before, and each time, she’s answered with grit and glory.

From World Championship gold in 2023 to silver in the 100m and gold in the 4x100m relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Richardson has already rewritten her story once and she's prepared to do it again.

Richardson has time to recalibrate and refocus. The season is still young, and if her post is any indication, her mindset is already locked in.