Sha’Carri Richardson has officially cemented her status as the fastest woman alive. On July 5, 2025, at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, the 24-year-old sprinter clocked a jaw-dropping 10.54 seconds in the women’s 100m final, breaking the longstanding world record of 10.60s set by Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988.
The Record-Breaking Moment
The air was thick with anticipation as Richardson took her mark. She had qualified confidently through the heats and semifinals, but few expected what came next.
As the gun fired, Richardson exploded out of the blocks. Her stride, effortless yet powerful, quickly separated her from the field. She surged through the finish line in what initially appeared to be 10.56 seconds, but moments later, the official time adjusted to 10.54 seconds, sparking celebrations in Hayward Field and across the athletics world.
“This is bigger than me,” Richardson told reporters, tearfully holding the American flag. “This is for every little girl who thought she wasn’t enough.”
🇺🇸 Qualification for Paris 2025
The win also solidified Richardson’s place on Team USA for the Paris 2025 Summer Olympics, where she’ll enter as a favorite for gold. This will be her second Olympic appearance, following her Tokyo absence in 2021 due to a suspension and her strong showing in Budapest in 2023, where she took gold in the World Championships.
Her Olympic dream is back on track—and this time, she’s taking the world by storm.
Reaction from the Athletics World
Fans, commentators, and former athletes flooded social media with praise. Usain Bolt tweeted: “LEGENDARY. Welcome to the 10.5 club.”
Even retired stars like Allyson Felix called it “a shift in women’s sprinting history.”
Nike, Richardson’s sponsor, immediately released a campaign video titled: “Fast is an understatement.”
The Science Behind the Speed
Experts credited several factors:
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A wind-legal reading of +0.9 m/s made the time valid for world record ratification.
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A new lightweight track surface debuted at Hayward Field this year.
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Her training under Dennis Mitchell has emphasized strength and form optimization.
What’s Next for Sha’Carri
Richardson will now prepare for the Olympic camp in Colorado Springs before heading to Europe for tune-up races in Zurich and Monaco. She will also likely run in the 200m and 4x100m relay in Paris.
She enters the Olympics not just as a medal favorite—but as a national icon.
Conclusion
Sha’Carri Richardson’s 10.54s sprint didn’t just earn her a spot in Paris—it etched her name in the history books. The former underdog is now the undeniable queen of sprinting, and all eyes are on her for the ultimate prize: Olympic gold.
Akalumhe Jefferson is a content writer with a new found interest for crafting engaging stories that transport readers to new worlds. Although no current actual background in creative writing but there’s active love for writing
