Sha’Carri Richardson arrived in Tokyo with the weight of redemption on her shoulders. The track world held its breath, everyone waiting as she stepped onto the Tokyo stage for her very first race of 2025 at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix. As the reigning world champion, this wasn’t just any debut; it felt like a chance for her to finally write a happier chapter in Tokyo, a city tied to the tough memory of her 2021 Olympic dreams. With a personal best that screams pure speed, fans were expecting fireworks. However, the ghosts have caught up to her.

Things didn’t just click for her this time. Sha’Carri crossed the line in 11.47s, while facing a bit of a headwind, she only managed to land in 4th place. Meanwhile, Australia’s Bree Rizzo looked strong, taking the win in 11.38s, with fellow American Twanisha Terry close behind at 11.42s. You could see the disappointment as Sha’Carri stood there, hands on her hips, looking at the result board. Was this just early-season rust, or was something deeper going on?

To look into all the moving parts, it was evident that Sha’Carri did not quite recover from the false alarm, which led to a restart. So, the race was briefly delayed after a green card was issued when Richardson appeared to jump early. But when the sprinters reset, she couldn’t recover her rhythm. And by the end of their sprint, disappointment could be seen in her eyes.

With a visible frustration, Richardson stormed past the media, offering just one word in response to her performance: “No.” Looking back, this was a sharp contrast to her 2024 opener, where she had blazed to a 10.83 at the Prefontaine Classic.

What makes Tokyo a grim memory for Sha’Carri Richardson is the events leading up to the 2021 Olympics. After dominating the U.S. Olympic Trials in June 2021 with a stunning 10.86-second victory in the 100m final, she was hailed as America’s top medal hope. But just weeks before the Tokyo Games, Richardson tested positive for THC, a chemical found in marijuana, during a post-race drug screening.

The result led to a 30-day suspension that disqualified her from competing in the 100m in Tokyo. Though she was technically eligible to run in the 4x100m relay, USA Track & Field ultimately did not select her for the squad. As a result, she missed out entirely on what was supposed to be her Olympic debut at age 21. With this, the city has etched a souring spot for her!

Sha’Carri Richardson’s whirlwind year

Sha’Carri Richardson had a seriously incredible 2024 – it was a whirlwind of major wins that perfectly set the stage for her return to Japan. Last year, she exploded onto the 100m scene at the Prefontaine Classic, winning in a super-fast 10.83s. She carried that amazing speed right through to the U.S. Olympic Trials, clocking the world’s fastest time of 10.71s, before snagging an Olympic silver medal in Paris, just narrowly missing gold.

Her Olympic run didn’t stop there! Sha’Carri anchored the U.S. 4x100m relay team to a thrilling gold medal win. While the 100m is clearly her main event, she’s also shown serious talent in the 200m, even winning a World bronze.

Turning 25 soon, she skipped the indoor season but has been shining off the track, even appearing at the Met Gala. With her next big race confirmed for the Prefontaine Classic in July, everyone’s buzzing to see how this standout athlete’s story will unfold back on the track, especially as she looks towards Tokyo again.