“Sha’Carri Richardson took on the 2024 Olympic Games for the first time, ending the first round of her women’s 100 sprint in first place. Known as the fastest woman in the world, Richardson reminded fans of the late Flo-Jo’s beauty–the fastest woman of all time–as she pressed her stiletto nails into the purple Olympic track,” wrote ESSENCE in one of their articles dating back to the Paris Olympics. Back then, she had clocked 10.94s in the heats, and her nails with vibrant colors and embellishments, complementing her Team USA uniform, brought comparison to Flo-J0. Yet the script has been flipped this year.

The 100m Olympic silver medalist and 2023 100m World Champion could not defend her title in the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships. Though she clocked her first season best and first sub-11 of the season, the 10.94 was not enough to guarantee a place on the podium.

Melissa Jefferson won in 10.61s, Tina Clayton took silver in 10.76s, while Julien Afred settled in 3rd position in 10.84s. But the one thing that remained constant was the nails.

“Nail Cam. Trendsetter🙈🤫 Let them know Miss Kelly @kellyphan_nails,” wrote Sha’Carri Richardson on her Instagram story with just 8 days to go for the World Championships. It flaunted a picture of her hand in almost a fist, and she was flexing her nails. In a classic Sha’Carri Richardson, or dare I say Flo-Jo fashion, each nail had a unique design, yet all of them, bold and glamorous. Color theme?

Soft peach, pink, gold, and green blended beautifully. Gems sparkled on the index and middle fingers, the ring finger had a 3D floral design, and the pinky shone with gold swirls.

Florence Griffith Joyner, the fastest woman in the world, started this trend. An example of this can be the Seoul Olympics.

For the 1988 games, the world record holder sported long and pointed nails, almost like stiletto heels; they seemed to tell a story of their own. Her thumb shone bright gold, the index finger was a bold blue with little white dots, the middle finger sparkled gold again, the ring finger glowed red with small details at the tip, and her pinky matched the playful blue and white of the index. Flo-Jo brought Fashion into track and field.

Sha’Carri has been on the same path, and there is a beautiful meaning to her nails as well.

“I’m saying the deeper message is, if anything, no matter what the design is, the relationships and my nails comes from the beautiful women within my family that have always shown me nail art from a young girl, like me being a little girl,” Richardson exclaimed.

One of these women was Florence Griffith Joyner, someone who inspired Sha’Carri, someone she paid tribute to.

Sha’Carri Richardson’s tribute to Flo-J0

At the 2025 Met Gala, Sha’Carri Richardson honored her idol, the legendary Florence Griffith-Joyner (Flo-Jo), with a playful and vibrant tribute.

She wore a strapless butter-yellow chiffon dress layered over a lavender floral lace bodice, styled with candy-colored nails, floral accents, and a dramatic bow at the back. Richardson’s long, mermaid-like hair, dotted with tiny yellow and white bows, echoed Flo-Jo’s flair for fun and attention-grabbing looks, reminiscent of the lace running outfit Flo-Jo famously wore at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials. Though there is nothing official on this.

“When I heard the theme (Tailored For You), all I honestly felt was expressing yourself. Showing exactly my unique self, showing exactly who I am through fashion, just like I do on the track. So when I heard the theme, I was just like I’m going to show up and flow like I normally do,” expressed the former world 100m champion while talking of what inspired her outfit.

But in another interview, Sha’carri had shared, “Flo-Jo’s influence on me definitely comes from her creativity and her freedom to express herself in a way no other female athlete had ever done. She showed beauty while applying it to hard work. That’s what resonates with me.” And probably, that had a subconscious influence during her Met Gala appearance.

Be it that one-legged tracksuit she donned multiple times to race or the hooded speed skating body suit at the 2nd IAAF World Athletics Championships in 1987, Flo-Jo was one of a kind.

And for Richardson, it was not just her outfit that made the headlines at the 2025 Met Gala, but her nails, too.

Nail artist Angie Aguirre crafted a vibrant, spring-inspired set using shades from OPI’s “OPI’m Dreaming” collection, including Grape Escape, Keep It Surreal, and AppointMINT Confirmed! The design featured 3D florals, gemstones, and flower petals, reflecting Richardson’s bold and colorful style. Something that Flo-Jo started and made a trend out of.

So, who is your favorite fashion athlete? Can Sha’Carri Richardson, FloJo, or someone else?