It’s June 2025, and fans have been waiting to see Sha’Carri Richardson light up the track again. But after just one race this season and a pretty disappointing one at that, many wondered if she was still the fierce force we know. Her season opener in Tokyo on May 18 was far from the flash we expected.

Sha’Carri finished fourth in the 100 meters with a time of 11.47 seconds, way off her blazing personal best of 10.65 seconds from 2023’s World Championships in Budapest. Ouch. For someone often called “the next Flo Jo,” it felt like a slow start to a big year. But Sha’Carri isn’t one to let doubts hang in the air.

Just two weeks later, on June 1, she broke her silence with a post on X, simply saying, “June is here and I truly have no fear for the rest of the year🙏🏽!” Boom. That was the message America needed. It was clear she was not backing down, not now, not ever. The comeback queen is just warming up. And on 3rd June, she further added, “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the steps“. Let’s be real, her race in Tokyo wasn’t pretty. She looked off her usual lightning pace, slowed out of the blocks, and ran with a wrap on her lower right leg. Australia’s Bree Rizzo won that race in 11.38 seconds, with other top athletes right behind her. But if anyone knows how to rise from setbacks, it’s Sha’Carri.

Remember how she missed the Tokyo Olympics because of suspension? Instead of folding, Sha’Carri Richardson came back stronger than ever, winning gold at the 2023 World Championships with a championship record of 10.65 seconds. Then at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she earned silver in the 100m and gold in the 4x100m relay. So yes, her season opener wasn’t what we hoped for. But one race doesn’t define a career. Even the greatest athletes have off days or slow starts, it’s just a snapshot of where they are at that moment.

What makes this season opener even more surprising is that it was her first competition since placing eighth at the 2024 Diamond League final in Brussels. Still, Richardson’s own words say it all: she’s fearless, focused, and ready to remind the world why she’s a star. Despite this less-than-ideal start, she has plenty of time to sharpen her form and make a powerful comeback ahead of the big events to come. So, what’s her plan?

Sha’Carri Richardson gears up for a power-packed summer

Sha’Carri Richardson is firing up for a big summer ahead. She’s locked in for the Prefontaine Classic on July 5, where she’ll take on the 100m against some fierce competition. Next, it is only a few weeks until the U.S. Championships get underway on July 31, giving her another chance to prepare for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Interest in these events is rising and the 100m and 200m for women are already expected to steal the show. Deciding to race with a fast track and stadiums comfortably full, Sha’Carri wants to show everyone why she’s always one of the fastest women out there.

So, what strategy is she going with for today? Well, she is seeking to do well and stay clean in her next competitions as a way to prepare for the Worlds championship. In Tokyo, she plans to run for two gold medals, in the 100m and 200m and possibly aim for the records set by Florence Griffith-Joyner.

Given Sha’Carri Richardson’s recent runs under 10.70 seconds, she’s showing she’s got the speed and the mindset to go for it. Plus, off the track, she’s stepping up as a founding adviser and co-owner of Athlos, a new team-based track and field league launching in 2026. With a preview meet coming up this October in New York, Sha’Carri’s not just planning to dominate races, she’s ready to change the sport’s game altogether.