Sha’Carri Richardson played a key role in bringing the gold medals to the US team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She ran the decisive anchor leg in the women’s 4x100m relay and finished the race in 41.78 seconds. Talking to Essence, she stated, “It was a phenomenal moment, and I honestly was honoured just to do that, with ladies who trusted me to be their anchor and to help us all bring that gold back to the States. That energy just came from everything coming up until that final moment, that being the final race of my first Olympic Games.”

But coming to the 2025 Tokyo World Championships, her stance seems to be wavering a bit. She hasn’t really breakthrough performance in this season, after all. Hence, this begs the question – can we really trust Richardson to significantly increase the gap for Team USA in the 4x100m women’s relay race? 

Can Sha’Carri Richardson cross over the finish line for her team? 

Sha’Carri Richardson has proven she can deliver on the biggest stage (her anchor leg in Paris was decisive). If she’s healthy and explosive, she can run down almost anyone over the final 100m. The real question is whether her teammates can get her the baton close enough to Jamaica for her to chase them down. If she sharpens her start and maintains sub-10.8 form heading into the next championship, Team USA has a genuine shot at beating Jamaica again. But there’s a catch—if Richardson hovers around 10.9 pace, Jamaica’s depth could be too much to handle.

We all saw her performance at the 2025 Tokyo World Championships. Despite her best efforts, she finished fifth in the 100m final. Still, she kept her head high. Taking to Instagram, Richardson wrote: “2025 owes me nothing but I am thankful for what this year has revealed and allowing the tone to be set for the rest of my life. I am Sha’Carri Richardson and there is so much more to come, just wait and see.”

Of course, whenever Richardson faces turbulence in her personal life, it can spill over into her athletic career. Her recent troubles at the airport were one example. Yet, it’s her resilience and never-give-up attitude that continue to inspire faith in her abilities. As she herself put it in a recent Instagram post: “You have to dig through the dirt to get to the treasure.”

Paris 2024 Olympics – Athletics – Women’s 4 x 100m Relay Final – Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France – August 09, 2024. General view of the final baton exchange with Sha’Carri Richardson of United States, Rebekka Haase of Germany and Daryll Neita of Britain in action. REUTERS/Fabrizio BenschConfidence is key, especially after a less-than-stellar season. Richardson hasn’t consistently shown that she’s in peak form to anchor the relay. Still, there’s reason to put some faith in her. To lead the U.S. charge, she must return to her 2023–2024 level (sub-10.85). But how does Team USA actually compare with Jamaica in the relay?

How does Team USA fare against Team Jamaica?

Team USA boasts a deep roster, with Gabby Thomas, Twanisha Terry, Aleia Hobbs, and of course, Sha’Carri Richardson. Thomas and Richardson have already helped secure victories in the past, and they could do so again. But relays depend on more than just speed—they require clean handoffs, chemistry, and consistency. Even a small mistake, like a mistimed exchange or a dropped baton, can be devastating. That’s an area where Team USA still needs improvement.

At the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Guangzhou, Jamaica outperformed Team USA and claimed the bronze medals. That American squad didn’t include Richardson or Thomas, while Jamaica fielded Natasha Morrison, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Tina Clayton, and Shericka Jackson. Now, with Jonielle Smith also expressing confidence ahead of the 4x100m relay, Jamaica’s depth looks formidable.

Smith stated: “The aim is always to win. So, I’m going to say our chances are very high. We have three of the finalists, plus a lot of sub-11 and 11 females. But the biggest goal is to get the baton around as quickly as possible, utilizing all of our zone.”

Needless to say, the challenge for Team USA will be immense.

But in track and field, nothing is ever certain until the race is run. We’ll have to wait and see which team stands on the tallest podium. For now, the question remains: do you believe Sha’Carri Richardson and Team USA can strike gold in the 4x100m relay?