Sha’Carri Richardson is all set to get back on the track this Thursday, 5 September, at the Weltklasse Zurich Diamond League meet. It’s her first race since she grabbed silver in the 100m at the Paris 2024 Olympics on 3 August. Everyone’s buzzing about her rematch with Julien Alfred, the Saint Lucian sprinter who made history by winning her country’s first two Olympic medals. Just three days before the big event on 2nd September, Sha’Carri Richardson shared a cryptic Instagram story that got everyone talking.
She posted a picture of a phone case with the words written on the back cover of her phone, “Don’t compare your life to others, there’s no comparison between the sun and the moon. They shine when it’s their time.” Could this be a message about Julien Alfred? Maybe she’s hinting that she doesn’t want to be compared. It sure seems that way!
Aside from facing Olympic champion Julien Alfred, Sha’Carri Richardson will also be competing against a tough lineup in Zurich, including Olympic finalists Daryll Neita, Mujinga Kambundji, Marie-Josee Ta Lou, and Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith. This will be Sha’Carri Richardson’s second Diamond League 100m of the season, following her win at the Prefontaine Classic in May.
A standout performance here could secure her spot in next weekend’s Diamond League Final in Brussels. Currently ranked second in the world, Richardson has a season’s best of 10.71 from the U.S. Olympic Trials in June and is aiming for her fifth Diamond League victory. Despite her powerful finish, Richardson struggled with a slow start, which allowed Alfred to pull ahead early and clinch the gold.
Sha’Carri Richardson’s chance to turn the tables
In the rain-soaked arena of the Paris Olympics, Julien Alfred defied the odds to become Saint Lucia’s first Olympic champion. Amidst the downpour, she burst off the blocks with a blazing start, charging ahead of the pack and crossing the finish line in 10.71 seconds. Her incredible speed left seasoned sprinters like Sha’Carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson trailing behind on the slippery track.
Richardson, known for her fiery personality and explosive finishes, found herself struggling with a slow start—a recurring challenge she’s faced before. At the U.S. Olympic Trials, she had to claw her way back from behind to secure victory, and she pulled off a similar feat at the World Championships, overtaking legends like Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson for gold. But in Paris, the magic slipped away, and despite a strong finish, she couldn’t close the gap with Alfred.
