On May 18, headlines blazed across the athletics world: Sha’Carri Richardson Beaten in Tokyo. It was a startling moment, not just because the reigning world champion finished off the podium, but because the performance felt far removed from the electrifying form she had displayed just a year prior. But while chatter grew louder around loss at the Grand Prix, one voice close to her says: Don’t panic. 

In her highly anticipated 2025 season opener at the Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo, Sha’Carri Richardson clocked a sluggish 11.47 seconds to finish fourth—a time that marked her slowest 100m since May 2021. That day, Bree Rizzo of Australia stunned the field with a personal best of 11.38 to claim victory. Richardson’s training partner at Star Athletics, TeeTee Terry, placed second in 11.42, and Canada’s Sade McCreath edged Sha’Carri for third with 11.46.

But as questions swirl around her Tokyo stumble, one person is urging calm: her training partner, Olympic medalist Aaron Brown, standing firm in her defense. In his words, showing support is ‘just a code’ as Sha’Carri Richardson is his training partner in Star Athletics and they’ve been ‘through the mud.’ However, speaking with Perdita Felicien on CBS Sports, Brown dismissed any notion that Richardson’s Tokyo result should spark alarm. With a disclaimer up ahead, he quickly said, “I lose all objectivity when it comes to my teammates. So I’m always going to be defending them in their corner.”

“We’ve seen this movie before,” he added. “She’s had times where she’s opened up, and didn’t look like she was up to the task. And then Prefontaine rolls around and she’s winning and blowing her way and looking like old Sha’Carri.” Brown pointed out a critical difference in Sha’Carri Richardson’s 2025 campaign: she already holds a bye into the World Championships. “She doesn’t need to be ready in May,” he emphasized. “She needs to be ready in September. She’s even had to go to trials and light it up like she normally does. So she has time to build it up and take her time and just, just trust the process.”  But Perdita found it hard to match Sha’Carri’s performance at Prefontaine last year and the clocking she had set in Tokyo four days ago. So, any other reason for her sluggish run? 

Aaron had a few more points ready. He said, “She [Sha’Carri Richardson] went across the world. Okay. She’s in Japan. Maybe she’s in adjust the jet lag, you know? And it’s not like the entire race was super fast.” Soon, the Canadian athlete brought in Tee Tee Terry’s example. Speaking about her, Brown said, “She got second in the race, and she didn’t light it up either.” So, it could be because of the jet lag or the tough conditions on the track with a headwind of -0.9 meters per second. Overall, Aaron Brown wasn’t ready to take the race seriously.

In the end, he said, “I just feel like I’m just going to throw that race out. And if she, if it becomes a trend, then I start to be like, okay, there’s something going on. But for one race, I expect her [Sha’Carri] to be fully a lot faster than next one.” Well, this isn’t the first time SCR’s season opener has come under scrutiny. 

Sha’Carri Richardson’s 2024 season opener also faced several questions 

Even last year, the road to victory didn’t begin with fireworks for Sha’Carri Richardson—it began with setbacks. In her first three races of the 2024 season, the reigning sprint queen never once stood atop the podium. She opened her campaign at the Pepsi Florida Relays, anchoring the women’s 4x100m relay team to a second-place finish in 43.04 seconds. A solid run, but not the statement win fans had hoped for.

Next came the Xiamen Diamond League, where Sha’Carri lined up for the 200 meters—a test of both speed and strategy. Despite a strong drive phase, she was edged out, crossing the line in 22.99 seconds for another second-place finish. Then came Suzhou, and more disappointment. Running 23.11 seconds, Richardson was pushed back to third, watching once again as someone else took the victory. Three meets. Three races. Three podiums, but never the top step.

But that’s the thing about Sha’Carri—she doesn’t panic, she reloads. Those early-season losses weren’t signs of weakness; they were fuel. Within weeks, she has the power to explode back into form, silencing doubters with a commanding victory at the Prefontaine Classic and a world-leading 10.71 at the U.S. Trials. So when fans saw a fourth-place finish in Tokyo this May, those who remember last season knew better than to count her out. Because for Sha’Carri Richardson, early season isn’t the destination—it’s just the runway.