Sha’Carri Richardson Sports Her Natural Hair for Her Final Track Event of the Season

In doing so, the professional athlete fulfilled a promise she made to her coach.

Sha’Carri Richardson.Tim Clayton/Getty Images

Standout track star Sha’Carri Richardson is well-known for sporting unique hairstyles and vibrantly colored wigs for her various track competitions. But in her most recent meet, the Prefontaine Classic, the 23-year-old athlete wore her natural hair to compete in one of her signature events, the 100-meter dash.

As is typical with her chosen hairstyles, the move garnered media attention following her completion of the event. When reporters asked why she chose to wear her natural hair for the Diamond League final event, Richardson laughed and explained the reason behind her choice.

“I told [my coach] that if I go 10.6 [seconds in the 100-meter dash], I’ll wear my natural hair,” she explained following her fourth place finish in the event on Sept. 16.

The professional runner did just that in August, finishing first in the women’s 100-meter dash—and becoming a world champion—at the World Track and Field Championships in Budapest. She then lived up to her promise.

“When I became the world champion and set a championship record, I ran a 10.65. So, I had to pull out the natural,” she said as she smiled and touched her curls.

The NBC Olympics TikTok account shared the clip of Richardson explaining her decision for her “final race of the track & field season.”

The Prefontaine Classic, which took place in Eugene, Ore., on Sept. 16-17, marked the end of the professional track and field season for the year, and Richardson certainly ended her season in style.

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