"Probably the funnest race I’ve had all season" - Sha'Carri Richardson delighted after avenging Olympic final loss to Julien Alfred at Diamond League

Sha'Carri Richardson avenged her Olympic final loss to Julien Alfred at the 2024 Zurich Diamond League. After clocking 10.84s to edge out the Olympic champion, the world champion called the race one of her "funnest".

Richardson was overwhelmingly the favorite to win the 100m gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics until the odds changed in the semifinals. The 24-year-old was stunned by Alfred before they met in the finals nearly two hours later.

Alfred got off to a usual brisk start in the finals while Richardson struggled again. The American couldn't chase down the Saint Lucian as Alfred won the nation's first Olympic gold medal in 10.72s while Richardson settled for silver in 10.87s.

Nearly a month later, Richardson had a better start in the 100m dash at the Zurich Diamond League as she chased down the Olympic champion this time.

“This is probably the funnest race I’ve had all season. I took that time after the Games to come back, regroup and be able to show you guys the Sha’Carri Richardson y’all know,” she said after the race.

The 24-year-old was part of former LSU teammate Mondo Duplantis’ entourage during his 100m clash against Karsten Warholm. The pole vaulter won the dash ahead of the 400m hurdles record holder, clocking an impressive 10.37s.

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Sha'Carri Richardson’s head-to-head record against Julien Alfred

Julien Alfred (R) and Sha'Carri Richardson (her right) at Wanda Diamond League 2024 - Source: Getty

Sha'Carri Richardson and Julien Alfred have faced each other six times in their careers with all six meetings in the last two years. Richardson triumphed thrice. Alfred holds three world titles while the American boasts the Olympic gold medal.

Richardson first met the Saint Lucian at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial in 2022, finishing second behind her in 10.97s. The two faced off directly in the World Championship finals next, where Richardson ran a blistering 10.65s for her maiden global title while Alfred finished fifth in 10.93s.

Before heading to the Paris Olympics, the two sprinters squared off at the 2024 Prefontaine Classic where Richardson dominated the field in 10.83s. Alfred was second in 10.93s but would get her revenge twice in Paris, beating the American first in the semifinals in 10.84s.

Alfred dominated Richardson again in the finals as the American fell to a poor start. However, with a win at the Zurich Diamond League, Richardson has now leveled the head-to-head record to 3-3 between the two as they get set for another exciting battle at the Brussels Diamond League.