Sha’Carri Richardson turned on the jets as the United States took gold in the 4×100 relay at the Olympics in Paris on Friday.
Richardson was what the NBC commentator estimated as “two or three meters” behind when she took the baton from Gabby Thomas as the fourth and final runner in the rain-soaked relay.
She shot a cheeky glance at Great Britain’s Daryll Neita, whose final push wasn’t enough as they barreled toward the finish.
“It was a phenomenal feeling for all of us,” Richardson told reporters after the race.
Sha’carri Richardson (USA) checks her opponents as she wins the women’s 4x100m relay during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade de France. Andrew Nelles-USA TODAY Sports
Sha’carri Richardson of Team United States celebrates winning the gold medals after competing in the Women’s 4x100m Relay Final on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France. Getty Images
Melissa Jefferson and Twanisha Terry were the first two runners for the United States.
Thomas said after the race that giving the baton to Richardson was “special.”
“Passing the baton to Sha’Carri is a very special and unique thing,” Thomas said. “She’s so fast and we know we’re in good hands as soon as she gets her hands on the baton.”
The team’s final time for the relay was 41.78 seconds.
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It was the 31st overall gold medal for the United States in the Olympics — and the first of the 24-year-old Richardson’s career.
US’ Sha’Carri Richardson celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the women’s 4x100m relay final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 9, 2024. AFP via Getty ImagesThe United States women’s 4×100 relay team took silver, losing to Jamaica, in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Adding a gold this time around was an honor for Richardson.
“The moment that I would describe is realizing that when we won as USA ladies, it was a phenomenal feeling for all of us,” Richardson added.
