Sha’Carri Richardson took to Twitter on Sunday to thank those who supported her following her suspension from the Olympic games. The 21-year-old runner’s 100m Olympic trials win was disqualified after Richardson tested positive for marijuana.
The support 🤎🖤my community I thank y’all , the negative forget y’all and enjoy the games because we all know it won’t be the same 😇.
— Sha’Carri Richardson (@itskerrii) July 4, 2021
Athletes from across the sports world came to Richardson’s defense following her one-month ban from the sport, with some, including WNBA star Sue Bird, calling for a change to the marijuana policy.
💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩💩
— Sue Bird (@S10Bird) July 2, 2021
🗣 Let Sha’Carri run
We all know THC being banned in competition has been outdated forEVERRRR! The crazy part is, it’s only recent that it’s a 1 month ban. It used to be for years. PLURAL!!! Same punishment as steroids etc. This needs to change. Now. https://t.co/8QHVhV1kFz
My heart is broken for @itskerrii. I think she is an amazing athlete and her personality is superstar level. Marijuana being a banned substance in competition seems… outdated???? And unfair.
— Adam Rippon (@AdamRippon) July 2, 2021
I completely agree. I feel for @itskerrii. We need to look at what athletes are being given to deal with the mental and physical demands of their sport. If Xanax and opioids are legal, then marijuana should be too. https://t.co/hnRBSwJT4X
— Sydney Leroux (@sydneyleroux) July 2, 2021
@itskerrii queen I support you. It’s time to break the stigma surrounding athletes use of marijuana.
— Natasha Cloud (@T_Cloud4) July 2, 2021
I have my medical card. I play at the highest level my sport has to offer and I use medicinal marijuana for anxiety, recovery, and sleep.
Others called for Richardson to be reinstated in the 100m race in Tokyo, sparking the trending hashtag #LetShaCarriRun.
This is so trash man… just let her run! https://t.co/tFY8omt215
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) July 2, 2021
Richardson could still race in the 4×100 relay in Tokyo as the event will take place outside of her month-long suspension. Whether or not USATF selects Richardson for the team will surely be a topic of conversation heading into the summer Games.
Athing Mu crushed the 800-meter final at the U.S. Olympic trials on Sunday night, winning the race in 1:56.07.
19-year-old @athiiing sets the Trials record and punched her ticket to Tokyo! 🎟@usatf | #TrackFieldTrials21 x #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/luuwJoUHnS
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) June 28, 2021
The 19-year-old’s race, which broke the Olympic trials record, was the second-fastest ever run by an American woman.
Raevyn Rogers and Ajee’ Wilson also qualified for the event, coming in second and third behind Mu.
Gabby Thomas is headed to Tokyo.
The American sprinter put on a show in the 200m final on Saturday, posting a blazing time of 21.61 seconds to speed past the competition and earn a spot on her first Olympic team.
Thomas set a U.S. Olympic track and field trials record with her time. She also clocked the third-fastest 200m ever; only Florence Griffith Joyner has run faster in the race, with times of 21.34 and 21.56 in 1988.
.@ItsGabrielleT places first, SMASHES the meet record, and punches her ticket to Tokyo! 🎟@usatf | #TrackFieldTrials21 x #TokyoOlympics
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) June 27, 2021
📺 NBC / https://t.co/X4DjdJu4po pic.twitter.com/xRYFTTkXhl
Jenna Prandini and Anavia Battle also qualified for the Olympics, finishing second and third behind Thomas.
Allyson Felix finished fifth and will not be racing in the 200m in Tokyo. Felix will compete in the 400m, which she qualified for earlier in the trials.
Allyson Felix is headed to Tokyo.
The 35-year-old sprinter qualified for her fifth Olympics on Sunday with her family, including daughter Camryn, cheering her on.
Felix ran from lane eight in the 400m final, motoring down the race’s home stretch to capture a second-place finish. Her time of 50.2 seconds was a season-best for Felix.
WHAT A RACE!
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) June 21, 2021
Quanera Hayes, Wadeline Jonathas and Allyson Felix are headed to Tokyo!@usatf | #TrackFieldTrials21 x #TokyoOlympics
📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/V1fSKxmS2x
“It has been a fight to get here and one thing I know how to do is fight,” Felix said after the Olympic-qualifying race.
Felix will next race in the 200m at the Olympic trials beginning on Thursday.
Sha’Carri Richardson is headed to Tokyo.
The 21-year-old sprinter dominated the 100m final at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials on Saturday, clocking a time of 10.86 seconds to take the win.
REMEMBER THE NAME.
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) June 20, 2021
Let us introduce you to the newest member of the U.S. Olympic Team: Sha'Carri Richardson.@usatf | #TrackFieldTrials21 x #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/O2wvaRgI8X
Following the victory, Richardson revealed in the post-race interview that she had lost her biological mother just last week.
“My family has kept me grounded,” Richardson said, “I’m highly grateful for them. Without them, there would be no me.”
Richardson’s Olympic berth has set up a highly anticipated head-to-head match-up with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the 100m in Tokyo.
Allyson Felix started on the quest for her fifth Olympics, winning her 400m heat in the U.S. Track and Field trials on Friday.
ALLYSON.FELIX.@allysonfelix wins her women's 400m heat at #TrackFieldTrials21.@usatf | #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/Gvc0DNU6Xr
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) June 18, 2021
Felix advanced out of the first round, clocking a time of 50.99 seconds. After the race, Felix said, “I feel good, I just want to run smart and keep progressing.”
The Olympic icon will join 15 other runners on Saturday for the 400m semifinals.
Sha’Carri Richardson had a picture-perfect start to her Olympic trials.
The 21-year-old American sprinter ran a blistering 10.84 in the 100m to capture her heat’s win on Friday.
After the race, Richardson told media her shoelaces were actually untied during the sprint, adding, “I’ll be sure to lace them up and tuck them for the next rounds to come.”
Richardson will be the heavy favorite in her upcoming 100m races, with or without tied laces.