Sha’Carri Richardson explains viral stare down during Olympics relay race

It is likely that you have encountered the widely circulated image of Sha’Carri Richardson from the 2024 Paris Olympics. In this photograph, Richardson is seen casting a confident glance to her right as she approaches the finish line in pursuit of an Olympic gold medal in the 4×100-meter relay, marking the first gold medal of her career following her achievement of a silver medal in the 100-meter final. This intense gaze, referred to as the “Shar’Carri Stare,” captured the attention of the nation, arguably even more than the gold medal itself. In an interview with Refinery29 published on Tuesday, Richardson expressed, “I looked over and I just knew that no matter what was going on, there was nobody that I was going to allow — even myself — to be in front of me. I wasn’t going to even allow myself to not cross that finish line in first place and not get that medal, or to let down those ladies and the support that we received when it comes to us crossing the finish line, in first place as Team USA.”

. While the expression has been characterized as a glare, Richardson clarified that it was more reflective of her own self-perception than that of her rivals. “The look was akin to gazing into a mirror, revealing a version of myself that only I could recognize,” she conveyed to Refinery29.

. “I consistently find myself to be my greatest rival, which compelled me to give my utmost effort on the track,” she remarked. “Reflecting on our performance, it was evident that the dedication demonstrated by all the women in the 4×1 relay would not go unrecognized.” While the photograph may not grace the walls of the Louvre Museum in Paris, the remarkable image captured during the anchor leg will certainly adorn her home. “I might consider displaying it in my residence,” she stated.