Sha’Carri Richardson in 2026: 3 New Year’s Resolutions for American Sprint Queen
As various track and field stars make plans for 2026, American sprint queen Sha’Carri Richardson is among those who will be hoping for a change in fortunes.
Richardson had 2025 to forget with issues on and off the track conspiring to make her season difficult. Only victory in the 4x100m relay at the World Championship provided a silver lining to her tough year.
Heading into 2026, the 25-year-old will be looking for a change in fortunes and it is not just on track but in her personal life. So, what would be the New Year’s resolutions for Sha’Carri Richardson?
Back to Winning Ways
Richardson had just one win in an individual race the whole of 2025, being in her 100m heat at the World Championships, before third place in the semi-final and fifth spot in the final when she failed to defend her title.
While she anchored Team USA to 4x100m relay gold, she had come to the World Championships without a single win, having featured two Diamond League series meetings, finishing last at home in Eugene and sixth in Silesia, before a better second place at the final in Brussels.
Her season also included a fourth place at Seika Grand Prix while at the US Championships, she finished fourth in her 200m heat to miss out on a ticket to the World Championships over the distance, having had a wild card in the 100m by virtue of being the defending champion.
Sha’Carri Richardson will therefore be looking forward to winning her events and there is a number to choose from; the World Indoor Championships, World Relays, Diamond Leagues and possibly the big-paying Ultimate Championship.
More Endorsement Deals
Due to her poor results on the track, Sha’Carri Richardson earned very little from race wins but she was still among the best paid thanks to her many endorsement deals.
However, there is no denying that winning attracts more suitors and if Richardson regains her winning touch, she will be in the money again not just from prize money but from sponsorships and brand deals.
This is something the American sprinter will be looking to lock in again after reaping big in 2023 and 2024, when she enjoyed the best moments of her running career.
Drama-Free Year
Another reason that contributed to Sha’Carri Richardson’s bad year was off-the-track stuff that did not leave her in a good mental space.
Richardson seemed to be enjoying a good romantic relationship with fellow sprinter Christian Coleman and they would go public last year after hiding it for several months.
However, on the eve of the US Championships in August, it was revealed that Richardson had been arrested over a fourth-degree domestic violence offense for allegedly assaulting Coleman at an airport.
The incident dominated global headlines, casting her in a negative light, and while she admitted to her mistakes and sought help, it was a huge distraction.
Having mended fences with Coleman, Richardson will hope that 2026 is the year of growth and more love with her man.
A drama-free year will allow her to focus on her performances on track and regain her place at the top of the tree after seeing Julien Alfred and training-mate Melissa Jefferson -Wooden overtake her in the last two years.