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Three years after a failed drug test kept her out of the Olympics, Richardson (and her fans) are focused on only one thing: a gold medal in the 100 meters.
Aug. 2, 2024Updated 5:03 p.m. ET
Sha’Carri Richardson is only interested in moving in one direction: forward. Her preference is to do so very, very quickly.
She doesn’t need to be reminded — again — of how her arrival at the 2024 Olympics represents a belated debut on the sports world’s biggest stage. She’s not all that interested in talking through why one race was fast or another slow.
She would like her head to remain focused exactly where her feet were on Friday: on the purple track of the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. On moving toward a singular goal, on winning an Olympic gold medal.
That is exactly what many fans in the stadium have come to witness, too.
“We came, really, to watch Sha’Carri,” said Jenifer Nalbandian, who traveled from California alongside her husband, brother and sister-in-law.
“It’s historic,” she said after watching Richardson cruise through the heats of the 100 meters on Friday. “Watching someone that’s at the top of their game, finally being able to come out to this Olympic Games and show the world what she can do. It was pretty epic to be in the stadium.”
Nalbandian has one expectation for Richardson.
“Gold,” she laughed. “Gold every day, all day. We don’t like silver.”
English (US) · 