America has a new sweetheart, and we’ll say we knew her when.
Sha’Carri Richardson, a Carter High School graduate, slayed the 100-meter sprint at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon Saturday, making her America’s fastest woman.
Richardson, 21, qualified with a time of 10.86 seconds. The second-place finisher was more than two seconds behind her.
Moments after the race, Richardson told an NBC reporter that her biological mother had died last week.
“My family has kept me grounded,” she told the network. “This year has been crazy for me. Going from just last week, losing my biological mother, and I”m still here.”
Richardson, whose name is pronounced “sha-KERRY,” was running for Louisiana State University in 2019 when she went pro.
She had been favored to win the race after posting unbeatable times all year, NBC reported.
“It’s going to take someone who’s audacious and bold and brash,” for the United States women to bring home Olympic gold in the 100 meters, which hasn’t happened since 1996, NBC reported.
Watch the race below, and try not to cry when she goes into the stands and hugs her family.
Richardson will compete in the 200 meters this week.
