Sha’Carri Richardson Reveals BFF Mondo Duplantis’ Part in Avenging Her Paris Olympics Heartbreak
Sha’Carri Richardson delivered a thrilling victory over Julien Alfred in their highly anticipated 100m rematch at the Zurich Diamond League, their first face-off since the Paris Olympics. Racing on a rain-soaked track, Richardson clocked in at an impressive 10.84 seconds, edging Alfred by just four-hundredths of a second.
This win was particularly sweet for Richardson, who had finished behind Alfred in Paris, where Alfred claimed gold with a 10.72-second run, and Richardson settled for silver at 10.87. Yet, Richardson remains the top sprinter this year, holding the fastest 100m time of 2024—a blazing 10.71 set during the U.S. Olympic Trials.
After the race, Sha’Carri Richardson reflected, “This race, it felt good. I’m just having fun. I am trying to finish strong. I really haven’t had the chance to take my medal in. After Paris I went back to Texas, did some training. It has been up and down, I am still working on the fine-tuning. In Brussels, I don’t want to run the double, just the 100m.”
Behind the scenes, Richardson credited her close friend and fellow athlete, Mondo Duplantis, for helping her bounce back from the disappointment of the Paris Olympics. Despite her silver medal in Paris, Richardson admitted that her heartbreak lingered. But Duplantis, known for his pole-vaulting prowess rather than sprinting, became a source of inspiration for her. In an unexpected twist, Duplantis even ventured into Richardson’s territory by running a 100m race—and shocked everyone with his speed.
Sha’Carri Richardson noted about Mondo Duplantis’ recent win, “I already did it [that same finish Mondo did in the 100], but Mondo put a little twist on it, he looked the side and run, that’s the Mondo flavor. To me, it was an amazing race. [About the last 20 meters] I am training and executing because I know the race is not going to take care of itself.”
Duplantis stole the spotlight in Zurich with a jaw-dropping 10.37-second sprint, beating hurdling star Karsten Warholm in an exhibition race. Duplantis, typically a pole vaulter, showed remarkable speed, so much so that his 10.37 time would have earned him a silver medal at the Swedish Championships this year, where the winning time was 10.44 seconds. During the race, Duplantis couldn’t resist glancing sideways to check on Warholm, only to realize he had left him far behind. Now, you might be wondering why Sha’Carri Richardson was so excitedly cheering for Duplantis, given their different nations.
The strong bond between Sha’Carri Richardson and Mondo Duplantis
Mondo Duplantis and Sha’Carri Richardson share a close friendship, and she was there to support him during his exhibition race. When Duplantis stepped out for the 100m, the excitement was palpable. He made a dramatic entrance. The scene was set with Duplantis in his striking blue satin gear. To top it off, Duplantis was surrounded by a star-studded entourage, including Richardson, who came to witness the electrifying action at Letzigrund Stadium. Their connection, rooted in their shared LSU ties, added a special touch to the event.
The Geaux Tigers connection runs deep for world champions Sha’Carri Richardson and Mondo Duplantis. Even once, Duplantis told Olympics.com during the Stockholm Diamond League, “It’s weird in a way. Because I think both of us knew we were capable of these kinds of things. But, you know, in sports, not everything pans out the way you think it will.” Both athletes began their LSU careers in 2018, with Duplantis winning an NCAA indoor title and Richardson capturing hers outdoors.
So, Duplantis and Richardson were both finalists for the Bowerman Award back in the day, and Richardson snagged the women’s award. Duplantis is clearly feeling nostalgic and proud. He mentioned, “I’m so proud of her. It’s wild to think about where we started—both as athletes and people—and see how far we’ve come. It’s really special.”
It’s pretty exciting to think about what’s next for them. With their track records so far, we’re really curious to see how many more records they might break in the future. What do you think?
