Crowd goes wild as Sha’Carri Richardson sheds orange wig & sprints to victory

Out track and field athlete Sha’Carri Richardson has pulled off another inspiring victory – and this time she’s not letting anything bring her down.

The star sprinter became a national champion this weekend after winning the women’s 100 with a time of 10.82 seconds.

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Before the race began, the crowd went wild as she pulled off her bright orange wig and dramatically tossed it aside, revealing long braids. Above her right ear, they formed the shape of a star. As The Black Wall Street Times put it, the star served as “a reminder to everyone of her place in the sport.”

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Richardson first sprinted into America’s hearts when she was 21 years old and won the 100-meter dash in 10.86 seconds during the Olympic trials, all while sporting bright orange hair that shot out behind her like a flame while she ran.

But after testing positive for cannabis – which is not performance-enhancing and which Richardson said she had smoked legally to deal with the recent death of her mother – she was banned from competing in the Olympics. Fans across the country rallied to support her. Over half a million people signed a petition to convince the Olympics to let her run.

Many argued Richardson was the victim of unfair, outdated, and racist policies. This felt especially true after the International Olympic Committee decided Russian ice skater Kamila Valieva was allowed to compete despite testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.

“The only difference I see is I’m a black young lady,” Richardson tweeted at the time.

And on the same field in Oregon, Richardson literally shed the orange hair she became so famous for, seemingly saying she’s not the person she once was – and that she isn’t going anywhere.

In an interview with NBC’s Lewis Johnson, Richardson said she remembered speaking to him years ago when she knew she wasn’t ready to do an interview.

“But now I stand here with you again, and I’m ready,” she said. “Mentally, physically, and emotionally. And I’m here to stay. I’m not back, I’m better.

During this weekend’s competitions, Richardson ran a personal best of 10.71 in the first round. For 24 hours, it was also the world’s fastest time.

Her victory has qualified her for the World Championships, which take place in Budapest on August 19-27.