Sha’Carri Richardson has built a career on blistering speed, but these days, the two-time Olympic medallist is learning that life off the track requires a different kind of discipline.
As Sha’Carri gears up for a packed summer schedule that includes the 2025 Prefontaine Classic on 5 July and the U.S. Championships later that month, the 25-year-old sprinter is reflecting on the value of slowing down away from the relentless pace of elite competition.
“I would say the hardest part about having to slow down is understanding that [it] doesn’t take away from going forward,” Sha’Carri Richardson shared in a recent interview with USA TODAY’s For The Win.
“Sometimes I feel like speed is equivalent to moving forward, and I don’t give that same energy to slowing down, to processing, which is still the same equivalent to going forward.”
Back on the Track, Eyes on Tokyo
After a milestone 2024 season that saw her claim Olympic silver in the 100m behind Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred and anchor Team USA’s gold-winning 4x100m relay, Richardson is determined to recapture her top form.
Her 2025 outdoor season opener at the Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo saw her clock 11.47 for a fourth-place finish, a modest start but a crucial experience at the venue that will host the World Athletics Championships in September.
That race wasn’t just about time on the clock. It was a mental marker for Sha’Carri Richardson, stepping back into the stadium where she hopes to make another global statement later this year.
A Voice for Black Excellence
Off the track, Sha’Carri Richardson continues to embrace her role as a cultural figure. In May, she graced the red carpet at the Met Gala, which celebrated Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. For Richardson, the evening represented more than just fashion.
“I feel like the theme of this year exuded a certain level of Black excellence that I truly was proud and honoured to be a part of,” she told USA TODAY.
“Black excellence is understanding. It’s being Black, and showing a level of discipline, a certain level of commitment that is an inspiration, that is an influence, to anybody watching, but especially to our fellow Black peers, family as well as fans.”
Slowing Down, Moving Forward
As she returns to the iconic Hayward Field in Eugene for both the Prefontaine Classic and U.S. Championships, the latter serving as the qualifying meet for Tokyo, Richardson remains grounded in a personal mantra: slowing down doesn’t mean falling behind.
“I have to give myself patience of actually committing to slowing down, and understanding that slowing down is continuing to go forward,” she reflected.
“I have to give myself a certain level of patience to slow down.”
As one of the most electric figures in global track and field, Richardson’s proving that sometimes, the bravest move is to pause, reflect, and give yourself permission to breathe.