Sha’Carri Richardson to tells critics to ‘talk all the s*** you want’

Sha’Carri Richardson had a message for her critics after a disappointing finish in the 2021 Prefontaine Classic: “Talk all the s*** you want. I’m not done.”

Sha’Carri Richardson is well aware of the criticism she’ll face after a ninth-place finish in her first race back after the positive marijuana test that kept her out of the Olympics. She doesn’t care.

“Count me out if you want to. Talk all the s*** you want, because I’m here to stay. I’m not done,” Richardson said at the 2021 Prefontaine Classic. “I’m the sixth fastest woman in this game ever, and can’t nobody ever take that from me.”

Sha’Carri Richardson has no time for haters

That was an emotional interview right following the 100m race that garnered some criticism itself. Talking to media after some time to cool down, she apologized for getting caught up in the heat of the moment.

“Congratulations to the women that won,” Richardson said. “I love women. No matter what the flag is. No matter what brand you wear. I love successful women and I hope that they continue to be just as successful as they’re doing and continue to thrive in their career. But I’m definitely going to thrive and I’m definitely going to continue to show the world why I’m that girl.”

With her bleached hair and long nails, Richardson grabbed the spotlight ahead of the Olympics with a blazing time of 10.86 in the U.S. Olympic track and field finals. However, her chance of contending for a medal in Tokyo crumbled when she tested positive for marijuana and was removed from Team USA.

With Olympic medalists like Elain Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson running in the Prefontaine, this was Richardson’s chance to prove she could run with them. That didn’t happen as Thompson-Herah took first with a time of 10.54 seconds, even better than her gold-winning mark. Richardson was well behind, finishing last at 11.14.

Richardson has vowed to use this performance, which was her first after a month off, to motivate her to improve.