After her remarkable Olympic debut on Friday, American sprinting sensation Sha'Carri Richardson is now focused on winning gold in the 100m.
Here are three things to know about the fastest woman in the world this year.
### Sha'Carri Richardson's Remarkable Journey to Professional Stardom
#### Dominance on the Track Before Going Pro
Throughout her high school career at Dallas Carter, Sha'Carri Richardson, now 24, was a formidable competitor. Over three years, she lost only ten races in the 100m and 200m events. Richardson secured five UIL titles in these distances, achieving personal bests of 11.12 seconds and 23.02 seconds, respectively, with her 11.12 time ranking as the 11th-fastest in high school history.
After joining the LSU Tigers track program in Baton Rouge, Richardson made an immediate impact. In her freshman year, the Texas native won three SEC titles, earned two first-team All-American honors, and claimed a national title in the 100m. Her record-breaking run remains the collegiate record and has stood unchallenged for five years.
#### A World Champion Out of Lane Eight
In her debut at the World Championships last summer, Richardson faced a tense semifinal but ultimately qualified for the final. In the final, running from lane eight, she surged past Jamaican stars Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, clocking a time of 10.65 seconds. This performance is tied for the fifth-fastest ever and the fourth-fastest by an American woman.
Richardson also anchored the American 4x100m relay team to a world title, alongside Tamari Davis, Twanisha Terry, and Gabby Thomas, setting a new championship record of 41.03 seconds. Additionally, she earned a bronze medal in the 200m.
#### The Future of Sprinting
Last summer, Richardson claimed world titles in both the 100m and 4x100m relay and a bronze in the 200m, solidifying a U.S. 2-3 finish behind Gabby Thomas. She is the fastest American woman since 2009 and one of only four Americans to run under 10.7 seconds.
Globally, since 2000, only eight women have run 10.75 seconds or faster in the 100m, with Richardson being the only one under 30 years old. At just under 25, she is poised to become one of the greatest sprinters in history.
### Looking Ahead to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games will take place from July 26 to August 11, with track and field events starting on August 1.
### FloTrack: Your Home for Track and Field
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