Sha’Carri Richardson and Team USA’s Thrilling Performance in Women’s 4×100 Final

After coming in second in the 100-meter dash, Sha’Carri Richardson had one more shot at winning gold in Paris.

PARIS, France — While Sha’Carri Richardson came up short of being named the World’s Fastest Woman at the 2024 Olympics, she’s still leaving Paris with a gold medal.

Richardson led the U.S. women’s relay team to victory in Friday’s 4×100-meter final and bailed them out of a potential upset loss. Richardson previously earned the silver medal in the 100-meter dash. 

Richardson overcame runners from Britain and Germany, to help the U.S. finish in 41.78 seconds, good for a .07-second win over Britain, which struggled with two baton changes in the rain.

Gabby Thomas ran the third leg and got her second gold of the Games, this one going with the 200-meter title. Twanisha Terry and 100 bronze medalist Melissa Jefferson rounded out the team.

The sprinting star played a key role in the American team just making it into the final.

She saved the American women with her anchor leg in the opening heat after a bad exchange between Thomas and Terry. The U.S. women won that heat, which made them a favorite in the final.

No team came into the qualifying race with a more loaded lineup that the U.S. women, but it all nearly cratered when Thomas took off early on the third leg, then had to slow down to receive the baton from Terry.

Both sprinters appeared to have their hand on the baton as Thomas crossed over the yellow line marking the end of the passing zone, which would make it a legal pass.

Richardson did not earn a spot in the 200-meter race after finishing fourth at the U.S. track trials earlier this summer. That made the 100-meter dash Richardson’s only spot at an individual Olympic medal in Paris.

The 24-year-old was beat by Julien Alfred, who gave Saint Lucia its first ever Olympic medal with her victory. Alfred got off to a fantastic start, then powered through the rain and beat Richardson by .15 seconds — about three body lengths.

It was the biggest margin in the women’s Olympic 100 since 2008.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.