Throughout 2023, Sha’Carri Richardson repeatedly said, “I’m not back, I’m better.” The world witnessed that as she dominated on the track this year. Richardson put together an elite season, winning several meets and running sub-11 seconds in every 100-meter race she ran in, including a world-leading time of 10.65. She would ultimately go on to win a 100-meter gold medal at the 2023 Track & Field World Championships, as well as a gold in the 4x1 and a bronze in the 200-meter.
- Jaleel Grandberry
FanSided Associate Editor
Best fan moment of the year
The best moment of the year was when Richardson won a world championship in the 100-meter race. She had a great season leading up to the championship race, but everyone knew it would take an elite performance for Richardson to emerge from the stacked championship race as the fastest woman in the world. She lined up in lane nine and delivered a world championship record, running a 10.65 to claim her first world title. As she crossed the finish line with her arms raised, the emotion began to pour out of her and any fan of hers who witnessed the moment.
What emotion defined this fandom this year?
Resiliency is the word that best captures what this fandom felt this year. In Sha’Carri Richardson’s post-race interview, she spoke about how she’s been through a lot, and how winning the gold medal was her hard work paying off and her overcoming all that she’s been through. Richardson’s fans witnessed the ups and downs that she experienced publicly, so it was great to see her have this special moment.