Sha’Carri Richardson Heaps Praise on Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce After Winning 100m Title

• Sha'Carri Richardson shared a warm embrace with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce after winning the 100m title
• The controversial American dethroned Fraser-Pryce in her first-ever appearance in a major championship
• It was a story of redemption for the 23-year-old who has overcome multiple challenges in her career so far

Sha'Carri Richardson was full of praise just minutes after beating the legendary Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to the women's 100 metres title at the World Athletics Championships.

Richardson stormed from the unfancied lane 9 to stun Fraser-Pryce and the fastest woman in the world this year, Shericka Jackson.

The American equalled Jackson's world-leading time of 10.65 seconds en route to winning her first title in her debut performance in a major championship final.

Sha'Carri Richardson's tribulations

Richardson's sheer pace has always been out there for everyone to see, but off-field issues have often derailed her. In 2021, she sadly lost her biological mother before she was handed a one-month ban for the use of bhang, which saw her miss the Tokyo Olympics.

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She has previously indicated that she used the banned substance as a means to cope with the loss of her parent. Last year, the American could not rise to the occasion as she failed to qualify for the World Championships, which were held on home soil in Oregon.

This year, she took to the track with the mantra, 'I am not back, I am better' and went on to prove on multiple occasions just how better and changed she was. The Texan beat Jackson twice in Diamond League events before bringing the roof down at the USA trials in July by running a then-personal best of 10.71 seconds.

In Budapest, she scraped through to the finals after being drawn in the 'Heat of Death' in semi-final two. She was lined up against Jackson and Ivory Coast's Marie Jose Ta Lou. Only the first two were guaranteed qualification to the final.

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Richardson finished third, but her time of 10.84 seconds was enough to see her through as one of the fastest losers. This meant that she was drawn in lane 9, far from the middle lane rivalry of Fraser-Pryce, Jackson, and Ta Lou.

Richardson praises Fraser-Pryce

Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise as she crept from behind to stun the 'Big Two'. At one point, it looked like it was another Jamaican battle for gold. However, the two did not have a clear eye line to Richardson's lane as she stormed through in the last 20 metres to set the fifth-fastest time in history.

Speaking after the race, Richardson acknowledged Fraser-Pryce's role in her young career.

"I just want to say she is an amazing athlete. I grew up watching her," she said to a shocked Fraser-Pryce.

The 36-year-old has been around for quite some time since winning her first major medal at the 2008 Olympics. She has battled fitness issues this season. Despite relinquishing her world title to Richardson, she was grateful for the bronze medal.

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"I've not won many bronze medals but given the circumstances of how I started the season, then it's not bad. Being a champion is not all about winning. It is about showing up even when the odds are stacked against you. I'm grateful to have another medal to add to the tally," she said, as quoted by BBC Sport.

The two - an old and a new face - will meet again when they lead their nations in the 4 by 100m relays. If the quality and power of the 100m race was anything to go by, you don't want to miss the relays.

Why Fraser-Pryce wears colourful wigs

Sports Brief also reported that apart from her frightening pace whenever she takes off, the mother of one is always unmistakable when picking her out of the starting line-ups due to her colourful wigs.

Last year during the World Championships in Oregon, Fraser-Pryce had a different colourful wig for every day she stepped out on the track, from the heats to the semi-finals to the finals.

The five-time World Champion has previously explained why she wears a wig on race days.