Sha'Carri Richardson fails to qualify for women's 200m at 2024 Paris Olympics, here's why
PARIS, FRANCE: Despite winning silver in the women's 100m final at the Paris Olympics, Sha'Carri Richardson won't be able to compete for Team USA in Tuesday's 200m final, according to The Mirror.
The 24-year-old American track and field athlete didn't qualify for the event after finishing fourth at the US Olympic track trials back in June. Her teammate, Gabby Thomas, claimed the top spot with a time of 21.81 seconds.
Brittany Brown and McKenzie Long secured second and third place, respectively, with Richardson just behind at 22.16 seconds. Although Richardson missed out on the 200m event in the Paris Olympics, she did qualify for the 100m and 4x100m relay.
Thomas, Brown, and Long have all advanced to Tuesday's 200m final, with Thomas leading the pack after clocking the best time (21.86) in the semi-final heats. Her time was the fastest across all semi-final races, making her one of the top contenders for the gold medal.
Sha'Carri Richardson has seen a meteoric rise as athlete despite early setbacks
In 2019, Sha’Carri Richardson made headlines as a freshman at Louisiana State University (LSU) when she broke the 100m collegiate record at the NCAA Division I Championships with a time of 10.75 seconds, placing her among the top ten fastest women aged 19.
Just four days after those championships, Richardson announced her decision to turn pro at the end of her first year, forfeiting her collegiate eligibility. She signed with Nike and qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games, but her dreams were shattered after testing positive in a urine sample.
Before the delayed Tokyo Games, Richardson's urine sample revealed recent marijuana use by testing positive for THC, leading to a one-month suspension from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and ruling her out of the 100m event at the Olympics.
Distraught, Richardson claimed that she used marijuana to cope with the loss of her mother. Although she was eligible for the 4x100m relay in Tokyo, she wasn't selected and was left off the previous US Olympic roster.
At the 2023 World Championships, Richardson secured gold in the 100m final but settled for bronze in the 200m. Her silver medal in the 100m final in Paris marked her first Olympic medal, but she was surpassed by St Lucia's Julien Alfred, who claimed the nation's first-ever gold medal.
Richardson's frustration at coming in second to Alfred was evident in the hours following the event. The Team USA athlete chose not to speak to reporters after her finish, except to correct a reporter on the pronunciation of her name.
The following day, as she passed through the mixed zone at Stade de France on Sunday, Richardson was asked if she was "happy" with the turn of events. She quickly replied that she was "very happy" before walking away from the gathered media.
Provided Team USA reaches the final of the 4x100m relay as anticipated, Richardson will have the opportunity to vie for a gold medal on August 9. Richardson is coached by former Team USA gold medalist Dennis Mitchell, who also trained former men's sprinter Justin Gatlin.
Internet slams Sha'Carri Richardson
Netizens shared their thoughts and opinions on the 24-year-old US track and field athlete who won silver in the Women's 100m category but failed to qualify for the Women's 200m race at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
One person commented, "It was her failure not anyone else's!"
Another person remarked, "Not so sure she's the fastest woman at the Olympics."
Another person argued, "She needs to run faster."
One person claimed, "No problem. She is not as fast as other ladies. Of course she cannot participate the event."
Another person quipped, "Cannabis is well-known for its performance enhancing capabilities. Should definitely disqualify high-performance athletes. {tongue firmly implanted in cheek, time to light up)."
Finally, this individual suggested, "The ink, nails and jewelry are slowing her down."
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
