

Raised by her grandmother, rocked by loss, and written off too soon, Sha’Carri Richardson turned pain into power. Sha’Carri Richardson finished eighth and last in the Women’s 100m Final of the Brussels Diamond League 2024, with a time of 11.23 seconds. The athlete finished 2024 in an end position and has not yet run in 2025.
Now, if there is anything about her 2025 season opening, Sha’Carri Richardson is likely to compete, chasing double gold in the 100m and 200m and possibly eyeing Flo-Jo’s world records of 10.49 and 21.34 seconds. But beyond “I am that girl’s” competitive career, her fans are curious to know more about her roots, her background, and more. So, let’s dive deep into Sha’Carri Richardson’s religion and ethnicity.
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What is Sha’Carri Richardson’s ethnicity?
Sha’Carri Richardson is an American sprinter of African-American descent. She was born on March 25, 2000, in Dallas, Texas. Her grandmother, Betty Harp, and her aunt, Shayaria Richardson, whom she regards as her mother, raised her. When Richardson’s mother passed away just a week before the 2021 Olympic trials, and she tested positive for a doping case, she clearly raised her voice.

via Getty
PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 09: Sha’carri Richardson of Team United States celebrates winning the gold medals after competing in the Women’s 4x100m Relay Final on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The controversy was caused by young Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, who was also found guilty but still permitted to compete, unlike Richardson. Sha’Carri Richardson said, “Can someone give me a solid answer as to the difference between Valieva’s situation and mine? My mother died and I couldn’t race, and I was among the three favorites. The only difference I see is that I’m a young Black woman. It’s all based on skin color.”
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Richardson is proud of being Black and has always stood up for injustice or racism. Apart from being outspoken and fierce on track, there is another side to her. It’s her religion; let’s find out about that.
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What is Sha’Carri Richardson’s religion?
Sha’Carri Richardson never shies away from voicing her thoughts, and it also includes her Christian faith. For her, following a religion is more than just a belief—it’s the backbone of how she navigates life and her career. Whether she’s on the podium or facing setbacks, she often says it’s her faith in God that keeps her grounded. Even in the tough phase, when she tested positive for marijuana and missed out on the Tokyo Olympics, it was a massive blow. But even then, she leaned on her faith to get through the backlash and personal grief she was dealing with at the time.
What’s your perspective on:
Is the treatment of Sha'Carri Richardson a clear case of racial bias in sports?
Have an interesting take?
Richardson is a Christian and has publicly attributed her faith in God as a source of inspiration and guidance throughout her life. In fact, during her 2023 USATF Athlete of the Year Award acceptance speech, she mentioned how her faith helped her reach this milestone. The American track and field sprinter often talks about how her beliefs help her face the challenges and motivate her for excellence.
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"Is the treatment of Sha'Carri Richardson a clear case of racial bias in sports?"