Former LSU sprinter Sha’Carri Richarson is a favorite to win a Gold Medal at the Paris Olympics after a 10.71 second sprint in the 100-meters at the U.S. track trials in Eugene, Oregon. Richardson, who was banned from competing in the 2021 Tokyo Games because of a positive marijuana test, was emotional when she crossed the finish line.
“The emotion was just joy because of the hard work I put in, not just physically on the track, but mentally and emotionally to grow into the mature young lady I am today,” Richardson said.
Richardson is one of the biggest track stars in the world and her one-month suspension for testing positive for cannabis was a huge story in 2021. The Texas native admitted to smoking pot to cope with the unexpected death of her biological mother. Richardson says she never stopped believing in herself.
“So stay grounded in yourself and your hard work everyday that you go out and no matter what you do, sports, music, education, whatever you do you treated like your last,” Richardson said.
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Richardson’s time of 10.71 in the 100 meters is the fastest time from any woman in the world, making her a favorite to win the gold medal when the summer Olympics begins next month.
“I don’t put a time on myself, I just know that if I execute and run a race if I train and prepare for it that the time comes with it, the time comes with it, I’m just excited to go out there and run a well-executed race,” Richardson said.
Richardson competed at LSU in 2019 and as a freshman she won the national 100-meter title and set an NCAA-record with 10.75 seconds. It’s a record that still stands.