It all started with a stare-down. Unlike during her two previous heats at the U.S. Olympic trials when she saluted the crowd upon her introduction, Sha’Carri Richardson’s 100-meter women’s final at Hayward Field started much differently. With her hands on her hips, Richardson stared straight ahead, locked into a focus that, 10.71 seconds later, made her an Olympian for the first time. With that time, the fastest in the world by a woman this year, Richardson took gold in the event and punched her ticket to the Paris Olympics.

There, she will join training partners Melissa Jefferson and Twanisha Terry, who placed second and third, respectively. After crossing the finish line, the 24-year-old Richardson jogged half the first turn of the track before dropping to a knee, bending her head and allowing a few moments to let her emotions take over. She said of her positive celebration, “Definitely still confidence, still my exciting, normal self, but more so overwhelmed with just emotions of joy. I know that the hard work I’ve put into, not just physically on the track but as well as mentally and emotionally to grow into the mature young lady that I am today and that I’m going to grow into was a full-fledged surreal moment for me to actually embrace and be able to show the world and on the track.”

That statement to a packed media tent following her victory was the first of many Richardson gave as she reflected on the rocky journey she has traversed in recent years. She said, “Everything I’ve been through is everything I have been through to be in this moment right now. There’s nothing I’ve been through that hasn’t designed me to sit right here in front of you to answer this question.” In June 2021, mere weeks before the pandemic-delayed Olympics in Tokyo, Richardson also won the U.S. trials in the 100 meters, sprinting on the very same track to a 10.86-second finish.

However, days later, a positive test for marijuana invalidated that result. Richardson was suspended for one month by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which says the substance is “prohibited in competition.” As a result, she missed an Olympics where she was expected to win a medal. This time around, she is expected to bring back even more hardware. Richardson said, “In the past three years, I’ve grown a better understanding of myself, a deeper respect and appreciation for my gift that I have in the sport, as well as my responsibility to the people that believe in and support me. I feel like all of those components have helped me grow and will continue to help me grow into the young lady that I have been divined and by God been blessed to be.”

Along with what Richardson says is a deeper admiration for her craft, which has resulted in tangible success on the track. This past year alone has been a big one for Richardson, who entered the trials having won the 100 meters at the world championships in Budapest, Hungary, last summer. Her time there was a scintillating 10.65 seconds, a personal best.