What if Sha’Carri Richardson’s biggest rival in the 100m race at Paris 2024 had been in the mix? Would Sha’Carri Richardson still have snatched that silver, or would the results have been different? One of the top contenders, Shericka Jackson had to pull out due to a hamstring injury, which shifted the race. Initially planning to compete in both the 100m and 200m, this athlete pulled out of the 100m to focus on the 200m but later had to withdraw from that event too, leaving them out of the medal race entirely.

Despite all of this, Shericka Jackson kept fans hopeful, assuring them she was still in great shape and just needed time to recover and perform at her best. Now, four months later, she’s been hard at work getting back to full strength and is ready to make a comeback, and finally, she did. When these two face off again, it’s going to be fireworks. The rivalry isn’t over—it’s only heating up!

Shericka Jackson recently shared a video of herself racing against Sha’Carri Richardson, Gabby Thomas, and others, and let’s just say, she was absolutely dominating. She captioned it with a simple “⏳,” and the fans went wild! One excited fan commented, “Can’t wait to see you back on the track!” while another said, “2025 loadingggg!!!” And honestly, they’re spot on—2025 is going to be huge. The World Championships in Tokyo are up next, and Jackson will be back, not just to defend her world title but also to keep chasing Florence Griffith-Joyner’s legendary 200m world record. This season might be winding down, but Shericka is coming back next year hungrier than ever, ready to show the world why she’s the fastest woman alive in the 200m.

Will we finally get to see Sha’Carri Richardson and her biggest rival go head-to-head again? Their past matchups have been nothing short of thrilling. Jackson, who grabbed a gold in the 4x100m relay at the Tokyo Olympics and a bronze in the 100m, has been pushing Richardson every step of the way. She dominated the Jamaican trials in June, running 10.84 in the 100m final.

The two sprinters have split their recent showdowns. At the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Richardson pulled off an incredible comeback, taking the win in 10.65 seconds, while Jackson finished just behind in 10.72. But Jackson got her revenge at the 2023 Prefontaine Classic, running a wind-aided 10.70 to beat Richardson, who came in fourth at 10.80. Now, fans are eagerly waiting for the next race—who’s going to come out on top next time? But this is also a warning for Gabby Thomas! right?

After Sha’Carri Richardson, Gabby Thomas dominates at the 2024 Paris Games, but is Shericka Jackson’s return a threat?

U.S. track star Gabby Thomas made history at the 2024 Paris Games, earning her first-ever Olympic gold medal in the women’s 200-meter sprint with an impressive time of 21.83. But wait there is more – she was also able to complete the 4×100 meter relay as well as the 4×400 meter relay and clinch the gold position. Thomas talked about the specific ordeal of being in a relay team stating that it is a lot different than other races because it is a team effort. Thomas also represented her country at the 2020 Tokyo Games where she won both silver and bronze. However, one can’t help but wonder: if Shericka Jackson had been there competing against her, would Thomas have been able to post those victories as well? Well, a closer look at the table below will help decide that!

Thomas knows that Shericka Jackson’s return in 2025 is a real threat. Jackson, who was forced to miss the Olympics due to injury, is expected to come back strong. Thomas acknowledged, “Having Shericka out this year, it is really unfortunate not to have the reigning world champion in the race, but it is just part of that give and take.” She’s aware that staying injury-free is a challenge, especially when competing at such a high level, saying, “It is really hard to run fast and stay healthy. It takes a lot of management, a lot of planning, and thankfully my coach and I had planned this year perfectly, but I know she will beb back.”

Thomas has a lot of respect for the Jamaican sprinters, having come into the sport when stars like Jackson, Elaine Thompson-Herah, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce were at their peak. It was “very intimidating” for her at first, but she knows that competition has pushed her to improve. Now, she’s optimistic about the future of American sprinting, calling it “a good era for American women’s sprinting” and adding, “We are really crashing it again, but it is a give and take and a push and pull.” With Jackson gearing up for a return, Thomas is ready for the rivalry to pick back up, as she knows it will take their best to keep pushing the sport to new heights.