Beating others in a race from here to there is what Richardson does for a living. And with one thrilling dash down the final stretch in Stade de France, the gold that had been just out of reach for so long finally became tangible.
Richardson chased down Germany’s Rebekka Haase and Britain’s Daryll Neita during an electrifying final leg to lock down the first Olympic gold of her career. And she did it with the style and swagger that’s become her signature, win or lose.
She caught Haase and Neita with 40 meters to go. With 20 meters left, Richardson turned to her right and glared at her competitors, each now a full step behind. At the finish line she leaned forward and high-stepped.
The 24-year-old from Dallas went so fast, it took a moment for the scoreboard to catch up.
The initial results on the massive videoboard indicated Britain had hit the line first. Richardson, Thomas, Twanisha Terry and Melissa Jefferson knew better. When the mistake was fixed — with a one next to the U.S.’s time of 41.78 — Richardson’s long journey to the top of the podium was finally over.
“It was a phenomenal feeling for all of us,” Richardson said.
