“Sanya, a champion,” is what folks at Vaz Preparatory School in Kingston used to call Sanya Richards-Ross before her family transcended some 600 miles for a better life. A class champion at her school and a local celebrity, Florida, however, didn’t exactly welcome her the way she’d expected. When her family essentially uprooted 12 years of her life to move—which Sanya of course didn’t want to—it left the young phenom as a nobody. Every other day, she’d recall practicing at the national stadium back home, only to be brought back to reality with a jolt… 

Here, life was different. There were no classmates who’d look up to her. There were no fans who would support her or cheer for her every time she ran. But if there was one thing that remained constant? It was the memory of that one scribbled note she had handed to her teacher at age nine. “I want to be an Olympic gold medalist.” For years, it was something she and her mother Sharon would laugh about. A dream preserved like a keepsake. Sharon, who was also an athlete once, would pull out the letter and smile, reminding her daughter that greatness had always been in her plans. 

Thankfully, the Richards family didn’t have to wait long enough. Merely five years after the move, in 2002 (during Richards-Ross’ final year of high school), the young girl would be named the National High School Female Athlete of the Year, USA Track and Field Youth Athlete of the year, and also become a part of the USA Junior Olympic team. And, safe to say, Richards-Ross has never had to look back since then. Weathering the highest of highs, and reaching the hallowed grounds of the Olympic stadiums, it’s been a life well-lived for the 40-year-old. Today, she’s a wife, a mother, and all the things she’d once dreamt of. Yet, if there’s one thing the Olympic champ never forgets, it’s the immense pride she feels about her Jamaican roots. 

On April 11, The Real Housewives of Atlanta star sat down with Wayne “Marshall” Mitchell for a hearty conversation on The Cut. At one point, the host asked her, “So, Sanya, what was growing up in Jamaica like? Cuz a lot of people don’t know that you’re real homegrown.” To this, the retired star responded, “I lived in Jamaica and I always tell people. I think I got the best of both worlds because, to fall in love with track here and to be nurtured by the coaches and the community, I think gave me a head start,” she said before highlighting the hurdles she faced, “When I moved to the States, I moved when…I went to eighth grade…and there was no group track. It was like hard to find a track team at that age.” Imagine being a young track and field athlete used to the vibrant energy of Jamaican youth athletics, only to find empty lanes and no starting gun. It was a jarring change.

Mitchell then asked her, “What was the transition like going into the high school system? Cuz this is a big sea now from a small pond in Jamaica. What was the transition like for you?” “It was hard for me at first. I remember when I went to the school…came from being in uniforms to being…in a public school for one year before I went private…My accent…It was all of these things I was trying to adjust to,” Richards-Ross confessed, before adding:

“But I remember when I joined the track team, it was like that was like my safe space. It made me feel like I belonged.” However, fast forward a few years, and Sanya was back on Jamaican soil—but this time wearing USA colors at the 2002 IAAF World Junior Championships in Kingston. You’d think it would be a proud homecoming. Instead, it was… complicated.

“I’ll be honest, in the beginning, it was difficult,” Richards-Ross admitted. “I came and I ran for the World Juniors, and the Jamaicans were booing me.” For a 17-year-old, it stung. The very place where her dream began had turned cold. But over time, she began to understand it differently. “I realized it was more a language of love, right? Because they wanted me to be with them. But it was hard on me.” Hard, yes—but not the end of the story.

Sanya didn’t turn her back on Jamaica. She came back. She gave back. She helped raise money, launched a foundation, and most importantly—she never forgot where she came from. “Things turned around. And I feel very loved now by the Jamaicans,” she said warmly.

Now 40 and an icon in the sport, Sanya recently returned to her roots in a new way—serving as an analyst for the Jamaican chapter of the Grand Slam Track. For her, it wasn’t just another gig. It was a full-circle moment. The girl who once left Kingston with a dream in her heart came back with her legacy etched in gold. Furthermore, her effort to keep Jamaica included in her story didn’t stop there.

Evidence? 

The track and field athlete keeps coming back to her roots 

The Olympic gold medalist has never turned her back on her roots. In fact, she’s been intentional about keeping Jamaica a central part of her story—and her family’s too. In 2023, Sanya brought the whole crew home to celebrate a special milestone: the sixth birthday of her son, Aaron Jermaine Ross II, affectionately known as “Deuce.” Together with her husband, NFL champion Aaron Ross, the family soaked in the island vibes, giving young Deuce a birthday celebration wrapped in culture, sunshine, and love. And if you thought that was the only time Sanya brought a spotlight to the island, think again.

In 2022, the track and field legend made waves by hosting her Real Housewives of Atlanta castmates for a glamorous three-episode Jamaican getaway. According to Caribbean National Weekly, the ladies checked into Ocean Eden Bay, one of the island’s newest and most luxurious five-star resorts. The trip wasn’t just about cocktails and coastlines, though—they also paid a visit to the National Stadium track, where so many of Jamaica’s sprint legends have left their mark. It was part vacation, part homecoming, and 100% Sanya. However, her love for Jamaica runs deeper than TV moments and birthday celebrations. 

In 2012, Sanya Richards-Ross returned to her childhood school, Vaz Preparatory, where she once first heard the words, “Sanya, a champion.” There, she gave an inspiring speech to the student body and donated $10,000 to support the next generation of dreamers. So, it’s clear: Sanya Richards-Ross never left Jamaica behind—she carries it with her, wherever she goes.