Sha’Carri Richardson Also Wants Her Viral Olympic Moment Hung In The Louvre
Every four years, at every Summer Olympic Games, iconic snapshots
immortalize feats of greatness that wouldn’t seem humanly possible if we weren’t glued to our screens watching them play out in real time. Florence Griffith Joyner (Flo-Jo) with her arms in the air, celebrating her world records for the 100m and 200m sprints in Seoul in ‘88. That time Vince Carter dunked on a seven-footer on Team France in Sydney in 2000. Usain Bolt in Rio in ‘16, a meter ahead of his competitors, flashing a smile to the camera. Every photo of Simone Biles. And now, we have Sha’Carri Richardson in Paris in 2024, sprinting to the finish line of the 4x100m relay for Team USA looking over her right shoulder, staring victory in the face.
“I may have to put it up in my house,” Richardson tells Unbothered over Zoom on the ground in Paris at the P&G Pavilion with OLAY. When I respond that they should hang a photo of that legendary moment in the Louvre, she laughs and says, “I’m right down the street.” But the “Sha’Carri Stare” is not the only image of Richardson that could adorn the halls of history. Richardson, like Flo-Jo and Gail Devers before her, isn’t just known for her speed. She’s also a beauty icon who leaves fans in awe of her nails, hair, and jewelry every time she sets foot on the track. So it makes sense that along with Olympic medals, Richardson is stacking up endorsements. Her partnership with OLAY’s new Cleansing Melts is a tribute to her grandmother (who she lovingly calls “Big Momma”) who raised her on the brand and serves as a reminder to focus on self-care amidst the pressure of being an Olympian.
Richardson entered the games with a whole lot of pressure. After the controversy surrounding her exclusion from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, all eyes were on the 24-year old sprinter to deliver the medals that were expected of her three years ago. Well, she delivered. After securing silver in the 100m, Richardson anchored Team USA in the 4x100m and it was her speed, resilience, and conviction that led the team to glory. Richardson is almost as good at going viral as she is at winning Olympics medals. From her now famous mid-sprint side-eye to her fixing her wig in the
middle of a post-race interview, Richardson’s personality was on full display during the games. And over Zoom, it’s pouring out of the screen. With her Dallas accent intact, medal around her neck and hair laid, Richardson was charming, relaxed and exuding the confidence that comes with reaching the pinnacle of greatness, while knowing it’s “only the beginning.”
