She is one of a kind. The colourful personality of athletics, leaving no one indifferent. She can provoke, but also be the object of worship – those were the words said about Sha'Carri Richardson by Piotr Małachowski, sports director of the Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial. On 16 July in the Silesian Stadium, the American will race over 100 metres against illustrious opposition. Her rivals will include famous names and the list includes Poland's Ewa Swoboda!
Short-sprint specialists have always been charismatic. But even amongst that group, some clearly stand out. The life story and personality of Sha'Carri Richardson gave her the recognition, which, despite her young age, has long reached beyond national borders. The colourful personality of women's athletics will shine bright on 16 July in the Silesian Stadium.
- She is unique – said Marek Plawgo, communications director of the Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, which has now become a permanent fixture on the prestigious Diamond League calendar, This is the advantage that allows Poland's prime athletics meeting to attract the greatest stars of what is known in Poland as the queen of sports.
Richardson herself could have stated she is the only queen around.
- You can love her, as thousands of fans do, or refuse to accept her, as is probably the case for some. Nobody feels neutral about Sha'Carri. It is either-or. She has been widely known as a controversial figure. In today's sports marketing that is a valuable asset – stated Piotr Małachowski, sports director of the meeting dedicated to the memory of the late Polish hammer throw great.
Richardson is very different from Kamila, whom she will help to commemorate on 16 July, that is for sure. However, she is similar in her sporting greatness, even though two years ago, when she was set to prove it at the Tokyo Olympics, she failed to make it. The reason was the positive test result for THC, the substance found in marihuana. It did not matter that she used it in a state where it was legal. The ban was not lifted despite her stating she used the substance at a moment of great personal loss, trying to cope with emotional turmoil. It was at the Olympic Trials that she found out her mother had died. Her parents had abandoned her, but the experience, as she later said, was one of the most devastating ones in her life. Although using banned substances is normally considered unacceptable by all, the reactions in Sha'Carri's case were somewhat mixed. As usual, some condemned her, while others protested against her ban and criticised World Athletics, using hashtags on social media. As if she was a demi-goddess. As if she was a real-life queen.
She is 23 years old and has not yet set a senior world record. She may not be an actual queen, but the world of athletics is waiting for a coronation. Experts say if anyone is capable of breaking Florence Griffith-Joyner's world record of 10.49, she will be the one to do it.
- Her fastest 100 metres so far is 10.72, with 10.76 this spring. She recently ran the 200m in Kenya, finishing with a fantastic time of 22.07, despite running the final metres with her arms outstretched, reminiscent of Usain Bolt. Her presence in a stadium guarantees a great show, even if her image is less extreme now, limited to tattoos and nail extensions. She had calmed down and matured, but there must still be heat in her heart. That is her nature – said Plawgo, stating her childhood must have affected her personal development. - The track is straighforward for her, but her life so far has been a twisted road – commented the former World Championships medalist.
Richardson is the current world leader this season. She may go faster in July, especially as the field in the Silesian Stadium at the Polish leg of the Diamond League will include other great sprinters, Shericka Jackson and Ewa Swoboda.
- I love the Silesian Stadium. It is the place to run fast – stated the Polish athlete, who ran the 100m in the same venue in 11.03 in early June. It was her first race this spring, bringing her a new personal best..
Jackson is the third fastest woman this year, with an outstanding 10.78. Some fans consider her, rather than Sha'Carri, to be the number-one candidate to break the world record. Experience is certainly on her side, In Tokyo she took gold with the Jamaican relay team and her resume includes three world titles. Her fastest run ever is 0.01 better than Sha'Carri's best.
It is not just the women who will provide excitement in the sprints at the Silesia Diamond League.
- It is a great pleasure to announce these names: Fred Kerley, Trayvon Brommell, Marvin Bracy and Akani Simbine. It is the absolute elite of the event, major championship medalists, including the last edition of the World Championships in Oregon, the athletes whom the entire athletics world is watching. They virtually guarantee times well below 10 seconds. I recently heard from one of the young Polish runners that he was trying to emulate Kerley's technique. That say a lot about who will be competing at the „Kama” Memorial on 16 July – Małachowski said.
The tickets to the Silesia Kamila Skolimowska memorial – Poland's first Diamond League meeting – are available on eBilet.pl.
