Sha’Carri Richardson, one of the fastest American women of all time, secured her place at the Tokyo Summer Olympics after dominating in track and field Olympic trials on June 19 in Eugene, Oregon.
Richardson, 21, has become known not only for her speed, but also her brightly colored hair that changes from event to event. At the Olympic trials it was orange: “My girlfriend actually picked my color. She said it like spoke to her, the fact that it was just so loud and vibrant, and that’s who I am.”
The record-breaking sprinter has also referenced her girlfriend on her TikTok account though she hasn’t made an official coming out statement or labeled herself publicly.
She stands out on the track with long hair and long nails that aren’t typically seen in the sport.
“I just want the world to know that I’m that girl,” Richardson said on Saturday. She is inspired in part by record-holder American sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner’s look: “The way she did that was graceful. I always liked that. If the amazing Flo-Jo had long nails, there was no excuse why I couldn’t have long nails.”
Richardson will compete at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo scheduled for July 23 to August 8, 2021. Out lesbian Kayla Miracle will join Richardson as another LGBTQ Olympian on Team USA in Tokyo. How many others will join them is yet to be seen.
