Struggle. That’s exactly where Sha’Carri Richardson and Christian Coleman find themselves right now. Partners both on and off the track, these two sprint stars preach “balance is key” in life. Sounds great, right? But while their personal lives seem steady, their professional performances? Not so much. How do we know? Well, let’s just say both showed up at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo, and both ended up losing.

Christian Coleman kicked off strong but faded to third place in the men’s 100m with a time of 10.11 seconds (+1.1 m/s). The surprise winner? Japanese sprinter Hiroki Yanagita blasted to first with 10.06 seconds. Christian Miller took second at 10.08. And what about Sha’Carri Richardson? The world 100m champion was expected to light up the season opener, but instead looked off from the start, finishing fourth in 11.47 seconds (-0.9 wind). Aussie sensation Bree Rizzo shocked everyone by winning with 11.38 seconds, leaving Sha’Carri behind, along with American Twanisha Terry, who was second.

Injury? Maybe. Excuse? Not so much. Sha’Carri Richardson showed up with a taped-up calf, clearly still battling something, but what had everyone buzzing was how off she looked out there. Slow start? Check. Lack of power? Double check. This was a major shock compared to her 2023 domination.

Remember Budapest? Boom! Sha’Carri blasted a championship record of 10.65 seconds to snag gold in the 100m, leaving heavy hitters like Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson (silver, 10.72) and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (bronze, 10.77) eating her dust. Just four days later? She crushed a personal best with 21.92 seconds for bronze in the 200m, even as Shericka Jackson set the second-fastest time ever at 21.41. Oh, and did we mention? Sha’Carri was the key piece of Team USA’s gold-winning 4x100m relay squad.

So, seeing her clock 11.47 in Tokyo, Sha’Carri Richardson’s slowest 100m since May 2021, when she ran 11.53 into a brutal 4.2 m/s headwind, has raised serious questions. Even former athlete Erin Brown didn’t hold back, throwing serious shade with a sarcastic tweet: “Yeah, with that start, I got Sha’Carri defending her title.” Oof. That stung. Meanwhile, the fans? Completely divided. Some called it a wake-up call; others stood firmly by her side, insisting it’s just part of the comeback grind.

Fans are talking, and critics are loud, but Sha’Carri Richardson might just be pacing herself.

One fan remarked, “Looks like Sha’Carri is just showing up to get paid,” while another added, “She’s the defending World Champion at 100m, which means she has a bye into Worlds. The 100m final at WCH isn’t until September 13—four months away. She came to get paid. There’s a reason she’s not racing—she’s intentionally behind in training and still in the trenches.” Whether it’s strategy or scrutiny, the reality is this: Sha’Carri Richardson’s gold in the 100m at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest automatically qualifies her for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. According to World Athletics’ rules, reigning world champions receive a wild-card entry, allowing them to bypass the usual qualification process, including trials and entry standards.

While the official prize money for the 2025 Seiko Golden Grand Prix in Tokyo hasn’t been publicly disclosed, this isn’t just about chasing checks. Sha’Carri Richardson might be pacing herself, preparing deliberately, and getting comfortable with competition settings again. After all, the World Championships in Tokyo will be held from September 13 to 21, 2025, and smart athletes know that peaking at the right time is everything.

Another fan put it perfectly: “Guys, the season just started—for Sha’Carri, we’re a long way from September. Let them do what they do, it’s too early to burn out quickly.” And someone else said what a lot of folks were thinking: “Suddenly I’m not discouraged with Shelly’s 11.05 from yesterday…” And honestly? Fair point.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who missed the Paris Olympics due to injury, just came back swinging. At 38 years old, she opened her 2025 season in April with a wind-assisted 10.94 at Velocity Fest 17 in Kingston. Yeah, the tailwind was a strong +3.1 m/s, so no, it’s not record-legal, but still, that’s some serious heat. And if we’re being real, that 10.94 is way sharper than anything Sha’Carri’s put down so far this year.

Wait… is this a pattern? One fan wasn’t shy about connecting the dots: “That’s two years in a row Sha’Carri Richardson lost her season opener to an Aussie.” And honestly? They’re not wrong. Flashback to April 2024, in Xiamen, China, Torrie Lewis snatched the win in the 200m with 22.96, just edging out Sha’Carri’s 22.99. It was Richardson’s first individual race of an Olympic year, and it came with all eyes watching.

Now here we are in 2025, and it’s 24-year-old Bree Rizzo spoiling the party in Tokyo. Another opener, another Australian, another surprise. But before we hit the panic button, let’s remember: it’s early. Sha’Carri Richardson is known for building momentum across the season. One race doesn’t define a champion, and if history’s taught us anything, she usually bounces back when it counts.