“That girl” is a title Sha’Carri Richardson has owned, both on and off the track. Most of us first saw her in 2020 when she won the 100-meter race at the U.S. Olympic Trials, and it wasn’t just her speed that caught everyone’s attention—it was her confidence. Who could forget her bold statement in the post-race interview: “I just want the world to know that I’m THAT girl”? Even when a positive drug test kept her out of the Tokyo Olympics, she handled it with grace and showed the world she’s not just fast—she’s tough. Now, in 2024, she proved why she’s that girl.

Sha’Carri isn’t just an athlete—she’s a whole vibe. Raised in Dallas by her grandmother Betty Harp, she’s been making waves since 2018. The best part is, it’s not fans loving her, but even she’s her own biggest fan, saying things like, “I love me. I love my aura. I love my energy. I love my mind. I love my thoughts. I love who I am.” Now, with the 2024 Paris Olympics in the rearview mirror, she’s there and also proved that she’s one of the best in the world.

Recently, there was a post on X by Track Spice asking people, “Name 1 thing you like and dislike about Sha’carri Richardson.” It didn’t sit well with her fans, especially after the Paris Olympics. Even Sha’Carri may have missed out on the gold in the 100-meter final at Stade de France by finishing with a time of 10.87 seconds; however, it was still an achievement. Nonetheless, Julien Alfred, from Saint Lucia, clinched the top position.

But still, the crowd had Sha’Carri as their favorite. When she completed the race, the spectators erupted into cheers and applause to express their affection and encouragement—without her securing the gold medal. Sha’Carri held her chin up confidently after her display. Confidently stated that this was only the start for her.

When negative doubts were cast upon Sha’Carri’s actions in a manner, her supporters promptly intervened to express their support for her by flooding the comments section with their strong disapproval of the negativity being aimed at her.

Fans defend Sha’Carri Richardson in a heated battle against online trolls

The recent buzz around Sha’Carri Richardson really shows just how passionate her fans are. One person jumped in, saying, “Why are you encouraging people to be negative towards athletes? Seems like a pretty dumb thing to do.” Another fan fired back, “#1 this post is weird and encouraging negativity, #2 she’s an amazing athlete and an amazing person so let’s leave it at that.” The hate got so intense that one fan even said, “What a weird and nasty thing to post. Death to your track Twitter idiots!” It’s clear her followers weren’t having any of it and rushed to her defense.

But you know, Sha’Carri Richardson, she doesn’t let the negativity get to her even after the Paris Olympics. Just before the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, she shut out the hate. She tweeted, “I wish the people that talk mess about me was cute at least,” making it clear she’s not wasting energy on negativity. She followed up with another tweet saying, “The love y’all show me, I’ll never let the hate overshadow that. Positivity is sooo much greater than negativity. That’s why God always wins and the devil fails.” Sha’Carri’s confidence is unstoppable!

Another fan added, “Why are you encouraging people to be negative towards athletes? Seems like a pretty dumb thing to do.” Well, negative doesn’t love Sha’carri, as we saw back in 2021.

In 2021, Sha’Carri Richardson experienced a surge of success when she emerged victorious in the 100-meter sprint at the U.S. Olympic Trials. But things took a turn when she tested positive for marijuana, leading to doubts being cast on her achievement. However, marijuana is not considered a substance that enhances performance, and her triumph at the trials was attributed to her speed, skill, and dedication. The critics didn’t just end their criticism; many of them claimed that her use of drugs somehow gave her an “advantage” in winning.

Sha’Carri Richardson still showed her resilience in the face of challenges. During that period of adversity, for Sha’Carri Richardson, she received support from both fans and celebrities such as Seth Rogen, Gabrielle Union, and Jonathan Van Ness, who criticized the suspension as unjust and offered their backing. Then, allowing the critiques to shape her identity, Sha’Carri Richardson used them as fuel to drive her.

One fan put it perfectly: “Nothing. She is an amazing athlete and is growing into a great woman. She is real and does not sugar coat things and it’s from being real that she got back lash. Look at her today, loved by most. Just growth. She is great for t&f.” Sha’Carri Richardson has truly shown her talent. It’s easy to see why she’s likened to the Florence Griffith Joyner—not just for her speed but also for her sense of style too! Like Flo Jo, Sha’Carri faced critics for her bold fashion choices at first, but now she’s setting trends as other athletes look to her for inspiration with their own daring and vibrant outfits.

Florence Griffith Joyner set records in the 100m (10.49 seconds) and 200m (21.34 seconds) that are still unmatched. Sha’Carri, just 24 years old, is starting to follow in her footsteps. With an Olympic medal and a world title in both the 100m (10.65 seconds), she’s not just holding her own but challenging the Jamaican sprinting dominance. It’s clear that Sha’Carri Richardson isn’t just a contender; she’s here to stay and making waves in both fashion and athletics.