'When things go wrong her top-end speed is unmatched' -Tee Tee Terry reflects on how Sha'Carri Richardson came in clutch for Team USA in Paris

Olympic silver medalist Sha'Carri Richardson

'When things go wrong her top-end speed is unmatched' -Tee Tee Terry reflects on how Sha'Carri Richardson came in clutch for Team USA in Paris

Stephen Awino 18:59 - 03.12.2024

The trio of Sha'Carri Richardson, Twanisha 'Tee Tee' Terry and Melissa Jefferson who all train together, joined forces with Gabby Thomas to steer Team USA to gold in Paris.

American Olympian Twanisha 'TeeTee' Terry has spotlighted a defining trait of teammate Sha'Carri Richardson that propelled Team USA to gold in the 4x100m relay at the Paris Olympic Games.

Terry, Richardson, Melissa Jefferson, and Gabby Thomas combined efforts to end Team USA's relay woes, overcoming a history of baton exchange errors.

The journey to gold was anything but smooth. The relay team faced additional pressure in rainy conditions, a setting that only magnified the risks of baton mishaps.

Adding to the tension, Richardson entered the event with something to prove after narrowly losing the 100m final to Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred.

Jefferson launched Team USA’s campaign, handing the baton to Terry, who managed a clean but cautious exchange.

When Terry passed to Thomas, Team USA’s hopes wavered as the handover required a slowdown, leaving the team trailing.

Despite the setback, Thomas closed the gap slightly before delivering the baton to Richardson in another near-miss exchange.

Richardson, however, demonstrated why she is among the world’s premier sprinters. With the team still behind, she tapped into her unmatched top-end speed to surge ahead, anchoring Team USA to a dramatic victory.

“Watching the screen when Sha’Carri took the baton, I did wonder how we were behind,” said Terry in season 2 of Netflix docuseries Sprint.

“But when things go wrong, her top-end speed is unmatched," she added, stressing Richardson's key role in clinching the gold medal.

Terry’s admiration was echoed by coach Dennis Mitchell, who praised Richardson’s resilience.

“They always say the definition of a champion is how you deal with adversity, and as a coach, that’s the kind of stuff I live for,” Mitchell noted.

The victory not only secured Olympic gold for Team USA but also showcased the team’s perseverance and Richardson’s ability to rise under pressure, cementing their place in relay history.