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The journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics has been anything but smooth, especially when it comes to the dynamic duo of U.S. sprinters Gabby Thomas and Sha’Carri Richardson.

Flashback to 2021, just before the Tokyo Olympics, the tension between these two hit a peak. Richardson got sidelined after testing positive for marijuana, earning a 30-day suspension from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. That ban knocked her out of the 100-meter event, and Richardson wasn’t shy about speaking out. She shared that she was using the substance to cope with the grief of losing her mother. Fans rallied behind her, even threatening to boycott the Olympics in protest. But Thomas wasn’t having it.

 

Taking to social media, Thomas voiced her disappointment in the potential boycott, reminding everyone that many Black athletes, herself included, had put in years of work for their moment on the Olympic stage. She urged fans to reconsider, sharing, “It really hurts to see so many black people choosing not to watch the Olympics this year,” tweeted Thomas. “There are so many black athletes who have put in YEARS of hard work for this moment- myself included. We want your support.” She continued. “I worry some of the anger and disdain may be misplaced. The ”Olympics” and those at the IOC have nothing to do with current events taking place.”

Richardson, never one to back down, fired back in a now-deleted tweet. She called out athletes who she claimed would never beat her, saying they had plenty to say about her situation but had been silent to her face. She also hinted that the spotlight on track and field was due to a select few, implying fans were right to stand by her.

“Athletes that haven’t and will never beat me have a lot to say about or surrounding my situation. When most of them have said nothing to me showing their characters that y’all don’t see behind the races.” she added “The attention that is on track now and was because of very few names. So if that’s where fans support lay, you can’t be mad at that.”

Since then, the drama seemed to simmer down—at least publicly. Fast forward to Paris 2024, and all eyes were locked on these two powerhouses. Thomas snagged gold in the 200m, while Richardson took silver in the 100m. Their skills on the track are undeniable, and it’s easy to see how competitive fire could lead to some head-butting.

When Thomas’s stunning 200m performance went viral, fans noticed one thing: Richardson didn’t publicly congratulate her teammate. But Richardson had her eyes on a bigger prize. With Team USA boasting one of the most stacked rosters in the 4x100m relay, the stakes were high.

 

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Thankfully, these ladies are pros through and through. They set aside any lingering beef and got down to business. The U.S. women’s relay team, featuring Thomas, Richardson, Melissa Jefferson, and Twanisha Terry, dominated the track, clocking a season-best 41.78. Great Britain took second, and Germany came in third, but it was the U.S. squad that stole the show.

Thomas held her own on the third leg, but it was Richardson who sealed the deal on the anchor, powering through the rain to bring home the gold for Team USA.