Sports
Sha’Carri Richardson Thanks Girlfriend After Qualifying for Olympics
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The sprinter credits her girlfriend for the hair color choice that set social media on fire.
June 21 2021 1:06 PM EST
June 20 2021 9:06 PM EST
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The sprinter credits her girlfriend for the hair color choice that set social media on fire.
Sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson blazed her way to a spot on the U.S. Olympic team after dominating the 100-meter women's sprint event at the Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Ore. on June 19 -- and she did it in style, with long, fiery orange hair trailing behind her. She'll soon head to Tokyo to compete in the Summer Olympics.
Richardson is quickly becoming known not just for her commanding presence on the track, but for the brightly colored hair she sports while competing. This time, she let her girlfriend choose the color. "She said it just spoke to her, the fact that it was just so loud and vibrant," Richardson told USA Today. "That's who I am. She just wanted me to be able to make a statement -- let's continue to show the world I'm a force to be reckoned with."
While Richardson's hair was making headlines, it wasn't the only colorful statement the sprinter made that day. She also posted a rainbow emoji to her Twitter feed.
\u201c\ud83c\udf08\u201d— Sha\u2019Carri Richardson (@Sha\u2019Carri Richardson) 1624126739
While Richardson hasn't officially come out publicly, one Twitter user gathered some receipts from the runner's TikTok.
\u201cfor ppl asking how do i know she\u2019s gay ! here\u2019s some posts from her tiktok and ig ! i used gay as an umbrella term here she may be bi !\u201d— tucker (@tucker) 1624202438
It will be up to Richardson to ultimately define herself, but one label she happily wears now is of being "THAT girl."
\u201c"I just want the world to know that I'm THAT girl." \ud83d\udca5\n\n@itskerrii with this ENERGY.\n\n#TrackFieldTrials21 | #TokyoOlympics\n\n\ud83d\udcfa NBCSN\u201d— On Her Turf (@On Her Turf) 1624151561
Richardson has also revealed the heartbreaking news that clinching a spot on the Olympic team came on the heels of her biological mother's death. While she didn't elaborate further, Richardson did tell NBC it was "still a very, very, very sensitive and confusing topic," adding that she loved her mother and knew she was loved in return.
Fortunately, the sprinter did have family on-site to celebrate her win. After her race, Richardson ran up into the stands to hug and thank her grandmother. "My grandmother is my heart," Richardson told NBC. "My grandmother is my superwoman."
Watch Richardson's winning performance and interviews below: