That gold around her neck was just what Sha’Carri Richardson needed to end her turbulent 2025 season. A misfortune in early February, no redemption at the World Championship, and a streak of podium misses marred the American sprinter’s year. But that 4×100 win meant she was getting back on track; it meant eagerness waiting to flood in.

But with months to go for the 2026 season to start, Richardson has found an unusual countdown: the NFL. About halfway through the 2025 season, the football hype has visibly taken over the American air. So much so, it has Richardson herself in the feels for the track & field season.

“I don’t know if you need to hear this, but I feel like all the football fans know. Now I’m just waiting for track season to come back. Now that y’all got football season, I’m just waiting on track season to come back,” she shared on Instagram.

The Diamond League doesn’t kick off until May 2026. But you bet she is sending in a subtle warning after that disappointment of a season.

An untimely injury in February derailed her momentum before it even began. While Richardson never revealed the exact nature of the setback, she admitted it had a major impact on her entire year: “completely set me back for the season, my start of the season, and just how I would normally execute.”

A delayed season opener, coupled with lingering issues, ultimately forced her to cap her performance far below expectations.

Clocking a season best of 10.94 seconds in the 100m to finish fifth at the World Championships, she failed to reach the individual podium. That was a fifth miss of the season, gaining her only 100m podium finish at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme in August.

That was quite a stunning drop considering the fact that last year, her season best was 10.71 seconds in the 100m. Even her 22.56 s in the 200 m lacked the explosiveness fans associate with her signature flair. While she salvaged the year with a 4×100 m relay gold, the season exposed cracks in her dominance.

Her rival, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, completely outshone her this season, staying undefeated in nearly every race and sweeping gold in the 100m, 200m, and relay at the World Championships. Meanwhile, Richardson never found her rhythm. For an athlete who feeds off pressure and spotlight, 2025 was a brutal test. No wonder she is eager to get back on the track.

Sha’Carri Richardson’s personal message to herself at the Colgate Women’s Games

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Colgate Women’s Games, Sha’Carri Richardson shared a message that perfectly captures the fusion of sport and self-belief. Taking to her Instagram handle, the athlete shared a photo of the Colgate Women’s Games — spikes on, gold medal gleaming with a caption that read, “The track has been a place where I can show up as myself,” she wrote. “It reinforced what I’ve always known to be true, which is to work hard, stay true, and rise together.”

Applauding Colgate’s initiative to nurture the young talents and calling it a place, “where mentorship, confidence, and community help the next generation shine on and off the track.” Her words reflect more than motivation; they mirror her evolution on Track. She further stated that this game taught her how to lead, give back, and stand strong in her identity. With that, Richardson made her mission clear: “I want them to know they can dream big, move with purpose and never compromise their truth to fit in.”

With her sights set on next year, the athlete aims to leave her mark, whether it’s on the Diamond League stage or at the World Ultimate Athletics Championships. One thing’s for sure, she’s coming back with golden eyes and fierce intent.