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Both Gabby Thomas & Sha'Carri Richardson have reportedly been at odds, but coach Mechelle Lewis Freeman united them to secure Olympic gold in the 4x100m relay.
Team USA’s women’s sprint relay coach, Mechelle Lewis Freeman, has opened up about her strategies for managing the strong personalities of Sha'Carri Richardson and Gabby Thomas, which led to consecutive triumphs at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Richardson and Thomas, both exceptional sprinters, have reportedly had a history of disagreements during training camps, with their relationship culminating in an alleged physical altercation before the 2024 Olympics.
These disputes, stemming from issues like training schedules and team roles, posed a challenge for Lewis Freeman, who took over as head coach in 2022.
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10:30 - 10.08.2023
Watch: Details of Sha'Carri Richardson's beef with Gabby Thomas
In a video posted on YouTube by Raes Take TV, the YouTubers explain what really happened at the camp that led to the scandal.
Despite these challenges, Lewis Freeman’s leadership ensured that the team stayed united, ultimately delivering stunning relay performances.
In an interview on Justin Gatlin's Ready Set Go podcast, Lewis Freeman explained her approach to uniting the team for 2023:
“With this team, it was about getting big personalities to work together. Getting everybody to be bought in. You can never compromise what is necessary, and that is to win.”
Freeman emphasized the importance of setting a clear standard of performance and ensuring that every athlete was aligned with the goal of victory:
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20:42 - 31.10.2024
'I hate it, I can't stand it'- Gabby Thomas clears the air over alleged 'beef' with Sha'Carri Richardson
Gabby Thomas refuted rumors of a feud with Sha’Carri Richardson, stating they are on good terms despite internet claims of tension and even a physical altercation.
“No matter what, when we look around—‘You wanna win? You wanna win? You wanna win?’—okay, everybody is on the same page.”
Lewis Freeman credited the team’s success to their ability to make necessary adjustments, even in high-pressure situations.
Ahead of the 2023 World Championship final, Freeman made bold lineup changes, introducing Richardson and Thomas, who had not raced in the heats, into the final team.
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10:51 - 23.11.2024
'2024 proved I am more than that!' - Sha'Carri Richardson's teammate 'Tee Tee' Terry hits back at critics claiming she is just a relay runner
Twanisha 'Tee Tee' Terry has hit back at critics saying she is nothing more than a relay runner, while offering advice to upcoming athletes on why they should learn to take a break off social media.
“It is not all about just running fast times but about winning and making adjustments when things do not go well,” she explained.
One key decision involved placing Gabby Thomas on the third leg of the relay. Freeman highlighted Thomas's intelligence and adaptability as crucial in the relay’s execution:
“You have a person with high track IQ... Knowing how to read the mark, accelerate, and make a pass as well as receive it. Once you stick to those things, whoever I put around you should not matter.”
The revamped lineup of Tamari Davis, Twanisha Terry, Gabby Thomas, and Sha'Carri Richardson delivered an electrifying performance in Budapest, dethroning a star-studded Jamaican squad anchored by Shericka Jackson and setting the tone for their Paris triumph a year later..
Lewis Freeman’s ability to navigate team dynamics and focus on collective success has cemented her status as a pivotal figure in American sprinting, proving that unity and adaptability are just as crucial as talent.
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