"I get there, and, there’s something different" -Sha'Carri Richardson's nail artist shares how sprinter's mindset changed from Tokyo to Paris Olympics

Sha'Carri Richardson's nail designer recently spoke about the American sprinting icon's shift in mindset from the 2020 Tokyo Games to the Paris Olympics. Richardson secured two medals at the recently concluded Olympics.

The 24-year-old participated in the maiden Olympic Games of her career this year in Paris after not competing in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 following a positive test for THC (a primary compound found in cannabis). At the Paris Olympics, Richardson competed in the 100m finals on Sunday, August 4, where St. Lucian runner Julien Alfred secured the gold with a time of 10.72 seconds, while Richardson earned the first-ever Olympic medal of her career - a silver - after crossing the finish line in 10.87 seconds.

The American sprinter next participated in the 4x100m relay event on Friday, August 9, where she ran the anchor leg for her team. The US lineup, which included Gabby Thomas, Melissa Jefferson, Twanisha Terry, and Sha'Carri Richardson, dominated the event to claim the gold. Richardson's heroics in the final split helped the US take home another Olympic title.

Angie Aguirre, the artist who designs Richardson's nails for major events, including the recent Sprite’s Obey Your Thirst campaign, revealed the difference she noticed in the sprinter's mindset after meeting her for the first time following her suspension in 2021 and then again last year. Aguirre stated (via ANDSCAPE):

"She was quite quiet, very nice still. But, you know, you could tell something was wrong [In 2021]. Fast-forward to last year, my agent booked me for her Oikos shoot. I get there, see her, and I’m like, there’s something different."

The Dallas-based runner's path to Olympic glory was far from easy as she had to go through significant setbacks in her professional career, especially in 2021. Richardson made a triumphant return to the track as she was crowned the 100m world champion in 2023, now capped by the Olympic victory.

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"I wanted to focus on competing at my best, and my look reflected that" - Sha'Carri Richardson on her mindset for the Paris Olympics

Sha'Carri Richardson at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 - Athletics - Source: Getty

As Sha'Carri Richardson was gearing up for her debut at the Paris Olympics, the Texas native shared insights about her mindset and how her appearance mirrored her determination.

Talking about her nails and distinctive hairdo for the Paris Games, the runner said (via Olympics.com):

"That’s just authentically who I am. I never play small, this is how I show up in life. I wanted to focus on competing at my best, and my look reflected that. It was clean, fresh, and fast."

Richardson once revealed that her earliest memory of doing her hair and nails dates back to her childhood when she had her hair straightened for a school picture.