When you think of pioneers in women’s track and field, Sha’Carri Richardson’s name is hard to ignore. Her style, her energy, and her speed have inspired many around the world. One of whom is the man behind Athlos, Alexis Ohanian. In fact, Sha’Carri was one of the reasons that Athlos exists today. Recently, Ohanian opened up about how her journey resonated deeply with him.
“I see some Sha’Carri clips, and I’m like, wow, okay, like I can’t not pay attention to her,” Ohanian said. “She’s got this amazing energy; she’s great on the track, and she has this big personality.” However, his admiration doesn’t stop there. Alexis Ohanian went on to talk about Sha’Carri’s infamous drug charge. He, however, did not see it as a stain in her journey. Instead, he saw it as unfair treatment!
So what exactly happened to Sha’Carri Richardson to invoke this empathy? Sha’Carri had qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, clocking 10.77, only to have her Olympic dream broken. During the mandatory drug tests, she tested positive for THC metabolites. The results caused outrage in the sports community. But Ohanian thought differently! “I thought, well, that’s kind of messed up,” he said.
