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Certain athletes gunning for gold at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris this summer are on a first-name basis with sports fans. Think Simone, Katie, and of course, Sha’Carri. They don’t need an introduction because their accomplishments on the gymnastics mat, the swimming pool, and the track, respectively, speak for themselves. As talented as they are in their sport, they have more they want to achieve in the coming weeks, that’s why Sha’Carri Richardson’s chat with SheKnows was so exciting — she’s just as passionate about the work that lay ahead, and we are thrilled to watch.
When we talked to Richardson ahead of the Olympic Trials for Track & Field on June 21, the champion already had her sights set on the main event in Paris. Even though she said she was “nervous” about the Summer Games ahead of her, it’s also when she feels “most confident.”
Richardson is ready to get her place on the podium in Paris and, based on what she told us, she must be feeling pretty good about it.
“Honestly, I feel most confident on the track when I’m the most nervous. That may be backward, but I feel confident in relying on the training I’ve been doing and the way I’ve prepared myself day-by-day,” she said. But remember, an “average day” is anything but average, Richardson starts early with “four to five hours” of training.
She often enjoys a post-workout recovery which usually includes a snack like Oikos Pro Drinks with 23 grams of protein or Oikos Pro Shots with 10 grams of protein — we are talking about “quick and convenient” for the busy athlete. “[They] are a big part of my day as I transition from practice to the weight room, or if I have errands to go run. I don’t necessarily want to stop and pick up something,” she says. The physical part of her day isn’t over yet because Richardson often gets “massages, hot tub, cold tub, anything that is going to be good decompression for my body physically – I like to get that done for recovery” — she has to treat her body with kindness after a tough workout.
The mental preparation is also a huge part of her training regimen which includes “a nice dinner, talking to my family, chilling by the pool for a little.” A crucial part of recovery also means a good night’s sleep and she’s often in bed “no later than 10:00 p.m.” Richardson lives by the mantra of “I’m not back, I’m better”, and it’s hard not think about the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Trials in 2021 when she won the world over with her athleticism and joyful enthusiasm after making the team. However, a THC-positive test after the death of her biological mom dashed her Olympic dreams. That’s why this year is going to have a much different ending.
She shares, “[I want to] continue to understand that no matter where I come from, I’m better than yesterday, I’m better than the day before that, I’m better than a year ago, two years ago. I just am better. I am still who I am. I’m me, but a better me.” Richardson reveals that she’s not looking at the past, it’s about “the direction that I’m going, which is forward.” Cheering her along her journey has always been her aunt Shayaria Richardson, who introduced her to the sport, and her grandmother Betty Harp, who helped raise her. Together, the women have shown her the most valuable life lesson of all.
“The reflection of them in my upbringing was always showing me to persevere no matter what, and to always have a certain level of trust and belief in your faith,” Richardson explains. “[Also,] understanding your beauty, not just on the outside but on the inside as well, and how you display that to the world.”
While Richardson has done the inner work in preparation for the Summer Games in Paris, she’s also promising to level up her style game on the track. Inspired by Black stylists, she’s known for changing up the color of her hair and long nails, and even adding new ink to her growing tattoo art collection. She promises, “The looks coming up are definitely going to be spontaneous – I don’t have anything planned right now. But I can say when the mood comes, the hair will come with it.”
Outside of the actual competition, Richardson hopes to take in the experience of Paris. She recently took a trip there, but perhaps superstitiously, she kept the visit strictly low-key. “I didn’t feel like I had earned my right to be there just yet and I didn’t want to see anything prematurely,” she explains. We don’t blame her one bit; she wants to reassure herself that her ticket is punched to Paris before getting to enjoy the riches of the city which she hopes “to explore” and “try some crepes.” That doesn’t seem like too tall of an order, but we have a feeling her Olympic Games might also include some hardware in gold, silver, or bronze.
And like many other female athletes, Richardson is hoping that the global showcase for her sport will call out the pay disparity between women and men. It’s not just a track and field issue, women in soccer and basketball are also making their voices heard. “My hope is for the audience of women’s sports to continue to grow and for female athletes to get the attention they deserve, to show that we’re just as entertaining and bring a similar level of competitiveness to our sports,” she sums up. “Ultimately, I’d also love to see women receive a similar level of pay to compensate for the same or even larger sacrifice that we put into being professional athletes.” Richardson is ready for her voice to be heard — on and off the track.
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