Sha’Carri Richardson Backed by Flo Jo’s Husband to Break Women’s 100m World Record

• Sha'Carri Richardson has previously been backed to break the women's 100m world record
• Save for Elaine Thompson-Herah, no one has ever been close to Florence Griffith Joyner's 10.49 seconds record set in 1998
• Richardson has been in hot top form this year, which culminated in winning the World title

Sha'Carri Richardson began her reign as the 100m World Champion in scintillating fashion by running a sub-11 race to win the Zurich Diamond League on August 31.

Richardson floored among others, Olympic Champion Elaine Thompson-Herah to clock 10.88 seconds to continue with what has been a splendid month for her.

The American recently won the world title at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest before following it up with a bronze medal in the 200m behind Shericka Jackson and Gabby Thomas. Richarson topped it off by anchoring Team USA to the women's 4 by 100m relay victory.

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Athletics

Can Sha'Carri break Flo-Jo's records?

Her renaissance this year has sparked hope that she might resume the same trajectory she was on when she first hit global headlines two years ago. The 23-year-old was expected to light up the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics, but a ban for substance abuse saw her form recline.

So good was she that Vogue Magazine called her the Flo-Jo of our time. Florence Griffith Joyner, or Flo Jo, was the legendary American sprinter who set tonnes of records in the late 80s. Flo-Jo ran a breathtaking 10.49 at the US Olympics trials on July 16, 1998 - the fastest time over the 100m distance to date.

She then went to the Seoul Olympics and posted 21.34 seconds in the 200m, which is also yet to be broken. Jackson is the only athlete who has come close to breaking the 200m World Record. She recently ran a 21.41 at the World Championships.

Fastest women in 2023 ahead of the World Athletics Championships

Athletics

What Flo-Jo's husband said about Sha'Carri

In 2021, Flo-Jo's husband, Al Joyner, backed Richardson and Thompson-Herah to challenge the records of his late wife.

"When I see Richardson and Elaine Thompson, they remind me of my late wife. They are going to get close to the record because they're seeing it is attainable", he said, as quoted by Essentially Sports.

Thompson-Herah is the fastest woman alive, having used 10.54 seconds in 2021. The 31-year-old will, however, need to put in the work tenfold to return to top shape after an injury-ravaged season. Richardson's best time was the 10.65 she used to win the World title in Budapest. That time was the fifth-fastest of all time, according to figures from World Athletics.

Richardson defends Lyles

Sports Brief earlier reported on Richardson defending compatriot Noah Lyles, who blasted NBA teams and players for calling themselves world champions.

Sha'Carri Richardson heaps praise on Fraser-Pryce after winning 100m title

Athletics

The men's 100m and 200m world champion called out the NBA over the weekend for calling themselves world champions, a comment that ruffled the feathers of the basketball community.

The sprinter took to social media to defend Lyles, who is yet to respond to the jibes from NBA stars.