Shakari Richardson got off to a strong start as the United States won the gold medal in the 4×100 relay at the Paris Olympics on Friday.
When she took the baton from Gabby Thomas as the fourth and final runner in the rain-soaked relay, Richardson was, in the NBC commentator’s estimation, “a few meters” behind.
She sent a cheeky glance at Britain’s Daryl Neita, whose final push wasn’t enough as he charged towards the finish line.
Melissa Jefferson and Towanisha Terry were the top two runners for the United States.
The team’s final relay time was 41.78 seconds.
2024 Paris Olympics
It was the 31st Olympic gold medal for the United States and the first of the 24-year-old Richardson’s career.
At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the U.S. women’s 4×100 relay team won the silver medal despite losing to Jamaica.
