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Sha’Carri Richardson is set to race the 100-meter medalists at the Prefontaine Classic this Saturday at the University of Oregon. Richardson will be racing Elaine Thompson-Herah (gold), Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (silver), and Shericka Jackson (bronze), the Jamaican trio who swept the podium at the Tokyo Olympics last month.
Richardson missed the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for THC after the U.S. Olympic trials. She won the 100-meter trial with a time of 10.86 seconds and was a heavy favorite going into Tokyo. It was reported that Richardson had learned of the passing of her mother just days before the Olympic trials from a complete stranger in an interview.
Richardson bounces back after Tokyo Olympics ban
“I had an interview scheduled with my agent. I was just thinking ‘oh it will be a normal interview’, and then in the interview to hear that information come from a complete stranger was definitely triggering and nerve shocking. It’s just like ‘who are you to tell me that’?”
“And no offense against him at all, he was just doing his job, but that definitely sent me in a state of emotional panic, still knowing that I have to go out and put on a performance for my dream. So yes, it was definitely triggering and from there just blinded by emotion. Blinded by hurting, hiding hurt for the fact that I know I can’t hide myself so at least in some type of way I was trying to hide my pain,” she added.
Richardson was given a 30-day suspension from the International Olympic Committee which took away her chance to race in the 100-meter final. USA Track and Field later decided not to include Richardson on the relay team for the Olympics even though it would have been after her suspension was over.
On Saturday Richardson will get the chance to show the world her place in the fastest woman alive debate. Richardson has raced against Fraser-Pryce twice in her career, finishing ahead of the Jamaican sprinter both times, but Saturday’s race will mark Richardson’s first time lining up against Thompson-Herah.
The race will air on NBC at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.