CONGRATULATIONS’ To Track and field athlete Sha’Carry Richardson
Sha’Carri Richardson On Black Womanhood, Radical Self-Love, and Running Her Own Race..
The Florida sun is just beginning to set, casting a soft orange glow on Sha’Carri Richardson’s brown skin as the Teen Vogue team flocks around her in between shots. Sha’Carri’s hairstylist runs over to comb her shoulder-length blonde hair while another stylist adjusts her jacket. Her bob is a departure from the flowing, neon styles she’s known for on the track.
With everything just right, Sha’Carri looks straight into the camera, her head held high, as if to say, “Yeah, I’m THAT girl.”
“That girl” is a moniker Sha’Carri has lived up to many times over, both in public and private.
Most of the world became familiar with Sha’Carri after she made headlines for winning the women’s 100-meter at the 2020 United States Olympic trials. Many fell in love with Sha’Carri’s confidence when, in her post-race interview, she proclaimed, “I just want the world to know that I’m THAT girl.” Sha’Carri showed this same confidence when she handled her suspension from the Tokyo Olympics with grace, after a positive drug test just before the Games disqualified her. She showed this confidence again when she recently questioned why a young white figure skater who tested positive for drugs was allowed to continue competing at the 2022 Olympics while she, a young Black runner, was banned.
