Three years removed after her devastating release by the national team before the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for marijuana use, Richardson claimed victory in the women’s 100m final with a 10.71sec time on the Oregon track and qualified for the upcoming Summer Games. “I feel honoured,” she said. “I feel every chapter I’ve been through in my life designed and prepared me for this moment. I cannot wait to go to Paris and represent.”
Richardson, who had won the heat on Friday despite stumbling out of the gate, came out fine this time and grabbed the lead mid-race with a powerful stride, crossing the finish line with authority while registering the year’s world-best time with a wind of 0.8m/sec at Hayward Field. Melissa Jefferson came in second at 10.80 and Twanisha Terry third with a time of 10.89.
Not since Gail Devers in 1996 has an American woman been crowned an Olympic 100m champion, with Jamaica dominating the field; but Richardson hopes to capture Olympic gold in the 100 final at the Stade de France on August 3, where she is expected to battle fierce rivals like Fraser-Pryce, Jackson and Thompson-Herah. Jamaica’s own Olympic trials are scheduled for 27 June. In Paris, the Texan will also try for 200m race, as well as the women’s 4×100 relay team.
She appeared all but set to challenge the US drought in the ramp-up for the pandemic-delayed Tokyo 2020 Games after winning at the US trials in 10.86 in 2021, but dreams of Olympic glory were shattered when it was revealed she had tested positive for marijuana, resulting in a one-month suspension that prevented her from attending. Plans to revive her career at the 2022 World Championships failed when she bombed out of the US trials. However, she roared back into form in 2023 with a thrilling 100m triumph at the world championships in Budapest, taking the crown in a championship record time of 10.65sec.
