Olympic medalist track star Sha’Carri Richardson arrested and charged with domestic violence

U.S. Track and Field superstar Sha’Carri Richardson, an Olympic gold medalist, may be faster than most of her competition, but she can’t outrun the law.

Richardson was arrested last Sunday and charged with domestic violence following an altercation with her boyfriend at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, USA Today reported.

The arrest and criminal charge is just the latest career blemish for the world champion sprinter, who was infamously disqualified from competing in the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games, which she was heavily favored to win, after she tested positive for marijuana use.

Arrested for domestic violence

The Associated Press reported that, according to a copy of the police report, the 25-year-old track star Richardson was arrested Sunday evening at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and spent the night at the South Correctional Entity in Des Moines, Washington, before she was eventually released shortly after noon on Monday.

Per the report, a Transportation Security Administration supervisor notified local police to the situation after they witnessed Richardson in a prolonged verbal and physical altercation with her boyfriend, fellow sprinter Christian Coleman, after they passed through a TSA checkpoint.

A responding officer reviewed surveillance camera footage and similarly observed Richardson making repeated physical contact with Coleman, including yanking his backpack and shoving him into a nearby column. She is said to have continued to make physical contact with Coleman and get in his way even as he repeatedly attempted to walk around and away from her.

Richardson also reportedly threw a set of headphones at Coleman, who later told officers that he “did not want to participate any further in the investigation and declined to be a victim.”

In response to questions about the arrest, the U.S.A. Track and Field organization said that it “is aware of the reports and is not commenting on this matter.”

Competed in a major qualifying event this week

Richardson’s arrest for domestic violence last Sunday did not stop her from competing this week at the U.S. Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, according to AFP.

The 100m world champion was on the track on Thursday for preliminary heat races and advanced to the semifinals round on Friday, but later withdrew herself from contention for the finals.

She remains automatically qualified for the upcoming World Championship event in September in Japan, however, given her status as the current defending world champ.

USATF said that Richardson still intends to compete in Sunday’s 200m event, though, after initially withdrawing from and then reentering that race.

World champion with multiple medals

USA Today noted that Richardson, after missing the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games because of the positive marijuana test, returned to the world stage with a vengeance and something to prove in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, where she earned a silver medal in the 100m along with a gold medal as part of Team USA’s 4x100m relay squad.

According to the AP, she also won the 100m event at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.