Sha’Carri Richardson Zooms Past Competition, Qualifying for Tokyo Olympics [Video]

After the race, which took place at the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, a winded Richardson told NBC Sports that it’s “unbelievable” she’s an Olympian.

“No matter what is said or anything, I am an Olympian, a dream since I was young,” Richardson said. “Being happy is an understatement. Being excited, nervous, all of those feelings piled in one. I am highly blessed and grateful.”

The track star revealed that she learned last week that her biological mother had passed away. “I’m still here,” Richardson said, “still choosing to pursue my dreams, still coming out here, still making sure to make the family that I do still have on this earth proud.”

“Nobody knows what I go through,” she continued. “Everybody has struggles and I understand that. When y’all see me on this track and y’all see the poker face that I put on but nobody but them and my coach knows what I go through on a day-to-day and I’m highly grateful of them. Without them there would be no me. Without my grandmother, there would be no Sha’Carri Richardson, so my family is my everything, my everything ‘til the day I’m done.”

When the 2020 Summer Olympics begin in July, Richardson will have the chance to test her speed against the world’s best runners. “I want the world to know that I’m THAT girl!”Richardson said. Everytime that I step on the track, I’m going to try to do what it is that me, my coach, my support team believes I can do… I’m never going to take the opportunity to perform in vain.”