Sha'Carri Richardson on dealing with negative comments: "If you don't have haters, something's missing"

In a candid conversation with tennis icons Venus and Serena Williams, American sprint queen Sha’Carri Richardson offered a deep dive into her journey, mindset, inspiration, and dealing with negative comments.

The 25-year-old Dallas native whose popularity is immense, and comes with a significant amount of public scrutiny and criticism, has found a way to turn her negative comments into fuel.

When asked how she handles the negativity, she revealed a resilient perspective.

"I use it as motivation," Richardson told the Williams sisters. "I’ve gotten to the point where if you don’t have haters, something’s missing."

This ability to channel criticism into inspiration is rooted in a deep-seated confidence that she admits is often misinterpreted. "I feel like people mistake confidence as cockiness, you know?" she added.

Likewise, Richardson defended her self-belief, explaining its importance in high-pressure moments. "It gets down to those moments where it’s not the crowd, it’s not your coach, it’s just you by yourself," she stated. "Who’s going to pour into you? It has to be you that feeds you the same way that it’s you that’s your biggest critic."

A defining moment in her career came at the 2023 U.S. track and field championships. Just before the women's 100m final, she dramatically pulled off her bright orange wig and tossed it aside. The move caught commentators by surprise, with one remarking, "Oh wow... She means business."

Seconds later, Richardson blazed across the finish line in 10.84 seconds to become the national champion. The symbolic act of revealing her natural braids sparked widespread speculation, but she recently clarified its meaning on the Williams sisters' Stockton Street podcast.

"It was a transformation," Richardson explained. "It was me, my representation of a transformation in front of the world. I was just like, you know, this is me. I am back. No, I’m not back because I’m still me. But I am better."

That powerful phrase, "I'm not back, I'm better," has since become her mantra—a defiant statement of evolution rather than a simple comeback. This new mindset propelled her to a maiden world title in the 100m in Budapest just weeks later and at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, after being faced with a major setback a few hours before the final, she still powered to the silver medal.

This year summed up to be a torrid one for the star sprinter. From an early season injury setback, to being arrested for domestic assault against her boyfriend Christian Coleman, yet still, she showed up at the World Championships in Tokyo by getting to the 100m final, proving her mental toughness and regard to always compete.

With personal goals still to achieve and a home Olympics at LA28 on the horizon, Richardson is also embracing her role as an influencer. As she continues to evolve—getting "better, not back"—she hopes to inspire the next generation.