Dallas native Sha’Carri Richardson is a world champion for the first time after winning the gold medal in the 100-meter event in her debut at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Monday.
The victory comes about two years after a failed drug test kept her out of the Tokyo Olympics. Richardson took responsibility for the result, acknowledging she had been using marijuana to cope with her mother’s death.
“Right now I’m just putting all of my energy into dealing with what I need to deal with to heal myself,” she told NBC’s Today after receiving news of her suspension in 2021. “I want to take responsibility for my actions. I’m not looking for an excuse.”
“I would like to say to my fans and my family and my sponsorship, to the haters, too, I apologize,” she added. “As much as I’m disappointed, I know that when I step on that track, I don’t represent myself, I represent a community that has shown me great support, great love.”
Richardson qualified for the final event in Budapest by finishing third in the semifinals with a time of 10.84 seconds, the best among non-automatic qualifiers.
She had only about 10 minutes of rest between races, and in the final leg, she rallied to defeat Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, along with six other women, by setting a world record by finishing the race in 10.65 seconds — even from the outside lane.
Richardson also becomes the first American to win the event since 2017 and redeems a last-place finish at nationals last year.
“This journey for me, from since I first came on the professional level [in 2019] to now is just knowing that no matter what happens, you never lose sight of yourself,” Richardson told NBC Sports. “Never lose sight of your faith. Always remember why you started.”
Jackson finished second by .07 seconds, while Fraser-Pryce, seeking a world record sixth championship in the event, finished in third.
Richardson also plans to compete in the 200-meters and 4×100 relay at the World Athletics Championships later this week.
