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Before Paris Olympics rumors of a heated feud between Gabby Thomas and Sha’Carri Richardson emerged hinting at tensions within Team USA’s training camp.
Fights in camp are nothing new for athletes especially when tensions run high leading up to major competitions.
However, a recent incident involving two of Team USA's most prominent stars—Gabby Thomas and Sha’Carri Richardson—has stirred the pot once again, nearly four months after the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The two sprinters, who had already experienced some public disagreements in the past, were allegedly involved in a physical confrontation at a training camp prior to the event.
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The rift between Thomas and Richardson has been brewing for years with several public moments fueling the animosity between them.
Back in 2021, Richardson's disqualification from the Tokyo Olympics for testing positive for marijuana set the stage for a turbulent relationship between her and Thomas, who was upset by the public backlash Richardson faced.
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Thomas, who was actively preparing for the Tokyo Games, posted her concerns about people boycotting the Olympics to support Richardson.
“It really hurts to see so many black people choosing not to watch the Olympics this year. There are so many black athletes who have put in YEARS of hard work for this moment- myself included. We want your support," she said.
Despite the drama surrounding Richardson’s suspension, she returned to the track stronger, securing a silver medal in the women's 100-meter final at the Paris Olympics.
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Meanwhile, Thomas, the 200-meter gold medalist in Paris, has been consistently in the spotlight, but it appears that the tension between the two athletes never truly dissipated.
In August 2023, rumors began circulating about a heated argument between Thomas and Richardson at a Team USA training camp.
According to sources close to the camp, the athletes' disagreements became more intense, particularly regarding training schedules and team selections.
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One camp insider explained that the issues started when Dennis Mitchell’s coached athletes, including Richardson, repeatedly showed up late to training sessions, which frustrated Thomas.
“It went from okay to now they are doing it on purpose,” the source said.
“They also wanted Kayla Davis to run in the relay because now she is no longer with Dwayne Rossi and she’s now with Dennis Mitchell. They also wanted Twanisha Terry to run, Sha’Carri to run.”
Things took a turn when Richardson reportedly made comments that only athletes running in the 100m race should be part of the relay team a sentiment that did not sit well with Thomas.
In an attempt to resolve the tension, Thomas allegedly confronted Richardson for her behavior but things did not calm down immediately.
Reflecting on the controversy, Thomas later posted a message on her TikTok, distancing herself from the drama.
“If you’re beefing with me, you’re beefing with yourself because life is too short and I’m truly blessed to be stressed," she said.
Adding fuel to the fire, there were also reports of a conflict between coaches involved in the training camp, particularly between Mitchell and another unnamed coach.
The issues were reportedly serious enough to affect the camp's cohesion and preparation ahead of the upcoming World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
"There’s a lot of unresolved tension between some of the athletes and coaches right now," one insider said.
"We can only hope that they get it right before the World Championships, or it could cost them."
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