'I may have to put it up in my house' - Sha'Carri Richardson explains viral gold medal-winning 4x100m moment

In what has been described as track and field's 'coldest picture' of Paris 2024 Olympics, Sha'Carri Richardson starred down runners as she came from behind to deliver the 4x100m fold for the USA.

With 25 meters left, the American speedster caught up to Great Britain's Daryll Neita, glanced at the lane by the stands, then crossed the finish line with a victorious scream to claim her first Olympic gold medal after she earned a silver medal in the 100-meter final. 

The stare-down now dubbed the "Shar'Carri Stare," captivated her fans and Americans, even more than the medal won.

"I looked over and I just knew that no matter what was going on, there was nobody that I was going to allow — even myself — to be in front of me," Richardson told Refinery29 in an interview published.

"I wasn't going to even allow myself to not cross that finish line in first place and not get that medal, or to let down those ladies and the support that we received when it comes to us crossing the finish line, in first place as Team USA."

The world 100m champion with the fastest time in the world this year, ran the final leg - made up of Richardson, Gabby Thomas, Melissa Jefferson, and Twanisha Terry as the quartet clocked a Season's Best (SB) performance of 41.78s.

Richardson received the baton from Thomas in fourth place but ran a blistering anchor leg to secure the gold as Great Britain and Germany finished with the silver and bronze medals respectively.

As expected, the stare has been ascribed with so many meanings by fans and media publications - which she has explained that it had more to do with her than her competitors.

"The look over was — it's almost like it was a mirror on that side of me, and I'm just looking at a version of myself that nobody but me could see," added Richardson.

"I'm always my biggest competitor (so I had to) leave my best on the track. And so just looking over, it was more so showing that the hard work that all of us ladies in that 4x100m put in was not going to be in vain."

She concluded by saying the masterpiece from the anchor leg would be art on her walls: "I may have to put it up in my house."

Meanwhile, her moment of victory while receiving her gold medal on the podium was an unexpected emotional display with tears of someone who has overcome loss, defeat, and suspension, to now stand on the podium as an Olympic champion.

By anchoring Team USA to the 4x100m gold, Richardson's Olympic redemption which started three years ago is complete and her outburst can be termed as 'tears of joy'.