How Sha'Carri Richardson returned from a drug ban to become the fastest woman on earth

Sha'Carri Richardson is officially the fastest woman on earth after her remarkable performance at the World Athletic Championship in Budapest. The American athlete is lightning-fast!

Richardson won the women's 100-meter title in Budapest, clocking in a time of 10.65 seconds.

The young 23-year-old American now holds the world record for the fastest woman on the planet. Richardson's road to success was bumpy and riddled with adversities, nevertheless, she overcame her difficulties and now has her eyes set on Paris 2024.

Sha'Carri Richardson was born in Dallas, Texas on March 25th, 2000. She was a very athletic kid growing up, participating in all kinds of sports.

Richardson developed quickly into a track and field star during her teenage years at Carter High School.

In 2017, she snatched her first golden medal at the Pan American U23 Athletics Championships. She outmatched everyone on the track and dominated the 4x100 alongside Gabriele Cunningham, Rebejah Smith, and Tara Davis.

The following year, Richardson went off to Louisiana State University (LSU) where she joined the Lady Tigers. She dominated the 100-meter sprint!

At 19, Sha'Carri Richardson established herself as one of the nation's best sprinters. During a NCAA (D1) Championship she established a record time of 10.75! After her great competitive exhibition, she was ranked among the top ten female sprinters in the world.

Richardson's progression was evident year after year. She developed into a competitive powerhouse at LSU and would cut down on her time year after year. In 2021, she established a new personal best of 10.72 seconds (100m). She became the fourth fastest female athlete in USA history!

Her incredible track record made her a top contender for the 2020 Summer Olympics. Richardson was indeed the fastest sprinter in her group and dominated the Olympic trials, registering a 10,86 time during her training.

Everything was lining up for a successful Olympic season, nevertheless, the young American athlete was disqualified from the trials after failing a drug test.

Richardson's drug test hit positive for THC, the main psychoactive property of cannabis. The US Olympic community suspended her from the Olympics and sanctioned her with the removal of winning titles.

The THC scandal hit Richardson hard, after the challenging build-up to the Olympics. Many of her fans argued it was a disproportionate sanction for such a small offense. Consuming THC doesn't enhance the athlete's physical abilities, it can't be equated to steroids.

"Who am I to tell you how to cope when you're dealing with a pain or dealing with a struggle that you've never experienced before," shared Richardson on social media.

Richardson was not going to give up just yet. This was just a mere speed bump in a long windy road. She returned to greatness in 2023 after winning the 100m sprint twice, in Doha (Qatar) and Chorzow (Poland). That same year, she dominated the US National 100m sprint (Females), clocking in 10.82 seconds.

Her remarkable performances made it clear to the American public, that she was the one. In less than a year Richardson flipped her life around, from total uncertainty to a World Championship winner in 2023!

Richardson is the fastest woman on earth, no one else can beat her. She is a clear favorite for the 2024 Olympics and she now looks more determined than ever. She missed her chance in 2020, but now, four years later, the young American sprinter seeks glory in the greatest Olympic stage.