Q&A: Sha'Carri Richardson talks 2028 Olympics, boyfriend Christian Coleman

USA Today

2 days ago

Q&A: Sha'Carri Richardson talks 2028 Olympics, boyfriend Christian Coleman
Sha'Carri Richardson is the fastest woman on the planet, but she's willingly slowing down in this current phase of her life.The last several months have been electric for the Texas native. She etched her name into history books at the 2024 Paris Olympics with an emphatic 4x100-meter relay gold medal win alongside Olympians Gabby Thomas, Twanisha Terry and Melissa Jefferson. Richardson also took home a silver medal in the women's 100-meter race.
Then, in February, she appeared in Nike's "So Win" Super Bowl commercial, alongside other powerful athletes, including Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson. Richardson kept going, and months later, she was cruising the 2025 Met Gala carpet. With so much happening on and off the track, it would be easy to assume that the 25-year-old might consider slowing down at some point and privately giving herself grace. However, she says grace isn't quite what she had in mind.
"I have to give myself patience of actually committing to slowing down and understanding that slowing down is continuing to go forward," Richardson told For The Win while promoting her partnership with Turtles. "I have to give myself a certain level of patience to slow down."
For The Win recently chatted with Richardson about the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, boyfriend and fellow Olympic athlete Christian Coleman, and her viral stare down meme from last summer.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
What's the hardest part about slowing down when you're not on a track?
I would say the hardest part about having to slow down is understanding that slowing down does not take away from going forward. I would say that sometimes I feel like speed is equivalent to moving forward, and I don't give that same energy to slowing down, processing ― seeing ― which is still the same equivalent to going forward.
What felt different about your 2025 Met Gala appearance versus your first one?
Well, I would say between the two different experiences of the Met Gala, I felt like this time, me and my team were definitely more involved in getting everything together so I can have a great experience. The invite, the two themes within the different Met Galas, also exuded a different energy as well. I feel like the theme of this year exuded a certain level of black excellence that I truly was proud and honored to be a part of.
The first one was my first one. I was more nervous than anything, and so I was able to take that first experience and build off of it for the second Met Gala.
When you hear the term Black excellence, what does that mean to you?
Black excellence is understanding. It's being Black, and showing a level of discipline, a certain level of commitment that is an inspiration ― that is an influence ― to anybody watching, but especially to our fellow black peers, family as well as fans. [It] shows no matter what is going on, to show up to be your full self despite, you know, history, despite adversity, and to be in the room and showing that there is no difference in what it is that we can accomplish.
What are the deeper, hidden messages in your iconic nail designs that most people may not pick up on?
Honestly, when it comes to my nails, I feel like it's depending on like when you're asking. I definitely do trust my team when it comes to preparing my nails. They understand me. They understand my energy, and not just that. They understand the event itself. So, they design based off of what it is that I exude.
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. So, I would say the deeper messages is a relationship to the women in my family, and also, I trust my team to create art every single time.
Are you looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, or is it too soon to do that?
No, it's never too soon to look forward to L.A. Olympics. I feel like being a track and field athlete, we don't just show up for the Olympics. We have world championships. We have other meets that happen every other year as well, besides every four years.
So, right now I'm looking forward to world championships in Tokyo as the reigning world champion in the 100 in September, and as well as from there, definitely building off of that momentum to go to 2028, and continue to represent myself, hard work, my team and of course, my country team USA.
What does it mean to you to have USA across your chest while potentially competing stateside?
To have the brand Team USA across my chest represents a level of pride ― that I am as a Black woman, knowing that where I come from ― [which] continues to represent a certain level of resilience that my I am my ancestors wildest dreams, and I will continue to, you know, open that door up to anybody that feels like that door has been closed on them.
As well as wearing Team USA across my chest, it represents a country that is always gonna show up and show out. Always gonna put their best foot forward. Always is going to know that, "Hey, if you see me, you know that I'm working to be the best. I trained to be the best, and there's not an option but to go out there, and no matter what happens, but to be the best."
If you weren't a track and field athlete, what other sport would you be known for?
I would say I would probably end up being a dancer. I know this sounds very like south field. I wouldn't say basketball cause I'm not tall at all, and I run too fast for the ball that's why I stopped playing. Actually, no, I would probably either be a dancer or play softball.
Who is a fellow athlete that deserves more recognition?
I would say Christian Coleman. And I would say Christian Coleman, due to the fact that he has shown up and done things that other male U.S. track and field athletes have not been able to do in such a long time. He continues to show up and represent himself, Team USA, Nike.
As well as his just journey of always persevering and being known as the best ... but not even just the best starter, but also showing a level of commitment to track and field that is missed by a lot of individuals that are quote unquote in the sport right now.
What was your reaction to seeing your gold medal win in the 4x100-meter relay at the Paris Olympics become a meme?
Honestly, I did not have a reaction to seeing that because I did it. [chuckles] ... When people ask, like, "Where did that come from?" it literally was just an energy that honestly took a life of it's own. Like, no matter what, again going back to whenever I'm on the track, leaving everything on the track. So, I feel like that's what it was.
My energy just overcame my body. I was still running, but my energy definitely had a much powerful presence and definitely had to just examine, you know, what was going on around because of the fact of, no, nothing physical was going to stop me.