U.S. track star Allyson Felix on Sha'Carri Richardson: 'I think she'll be in the sport for a very long time'
Allyson Felix solidified her G.O.A.T. status at last month's Tokyo Olympics—bringing her all-time medal count up to 11 and simultaneously breaking Carl Lewis' record to become the most decorated American track athlete in Olympic history—and she has no doubt that Sha'Carri Richardson has next.
"I know that she's obviously been through so much," Felix said of the 21-year-old star sprinter on Monday's (Aug. 23) Jimmy Kimmel Live. "And so, I hope that she's just supported. I hope people rally around her. Obviously, she has a great personality, and she's brought a lot of attention to the sport. I think she'll be in the sport for a very long time."
Richardson qualified for Tokyo in the women's 100-meter race back in late June, but by early July, she was handed a one-month suspension by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency because she had tested positive for marijuana.
The suspension disqualified Richardson from the Olympics, though she could have competed in the relay because the event fell outside of her suspension window, but the LSU product was not selected for the team.
Most recently, Richardson finished last in the women's 100 meter at the Prefontaine Classic over the weekend. Some people were surprised, but Richardson maintained her resilience:
As for Felix, the 35-year-old also discussed her difficult journey to Tokyo—including Nike not at all supporting her during her pregnancy—as well as her new sneaker called Saysh. Watch the interview below.
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