Despite Some Controversy & Being Disqualified for the 2021 Olympics, Sha'Carri Richardson Qualifies for 2024 Paris Olympics

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After the upset that prevented Sha'Carri Richardson from going to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the former LSU track star qualified for the 2024 Olympics in the 100 meters. Richardson is expected to qualify in the 200 meters as well. She advanced to the 200-meter finals Friday night after running a 21.92 with an easy first-place finish in her heat.

Sha'Carri was disqualified from the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for THC in a drug test. The sprinter said she used marijuana after finding out from the media that her biological mother died during the trials.

Yet, upon her recent achievement, Richardson told reporters, "I'm not back; I'm better!" The 24-year-old ran a 10.71 in the 100 meters at the trials— the fastest time in the world this year. The Dallas native told reporters, "I feel honored. I feel everything, every chapter I've been through in my life, designed and prepared me for this moment," Richardson explained to the press. "I cannot wait to go to Paris and represent [the United States]." Sha'Carri's training partners, Twanisha Terry and Melissa Jefferson, also qualified for the 100 meters, coming in second and third place in the finals. All three sprinters train together with Dennis Mitchell in Florida.

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The former LSU sprinter will race Gabby Thomas, a powerful contender who also qualified in the 200 finals, after running a 21.78 in Eugene, Oregon, tonight. Gabby won a bronze medal in the 200 at the 2021 Olympics.

Former Olympian Noah Lyles also qualified for the Olympics in the men's 100 meters and will run in the 200-meter finals on Saturday. Christian Coleman finished second behind Lyles, and Robert Gregory placed third in the 200. Noah placed third in the 2021 Olympics.

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