BLACK FAMILIES CELEBRATE THEIR LOVED ONES HEADING TO THE 2021 TOKYO OLYMPICS
Last weekend was yet another weekend of Black excellence! First, 21-year-old Sha’carri Richardson secured her ticket to Tokyo after winning her 100-meter heat, becoming the fastest woman in America. Then, two members of North Carolina A&T’s national championship 4×400 relay team, Randolph Ross and Trevor Stewart finished third and fourth, securing a spot in the U.S. 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
The celebrations were endless and took over the internet. After Richardson crossed the finish line, she bolted into the stands and cradled against her grandmother and other family members in attendance. Richardson announced that her biological mother had passed away the previous week. Even though it was emotionally challenging to run the race, Richardson pulled through. She showed her appreciation to her grandmother and family for their immense support throughout her life.
“My family has kept me grounded,” Richardson told NBC, per ESPN following her sprint. “This year has been crazy for me. Going from just last week, losing my biological mother, and I’m still here. … Last week, finding out my biological mother passed away and still choosing to pursue my dreams, still coming out here, still here to make the family that I do still have on this earth proud. … I’m highly grateful for them. Without them, there would be no me. Without my grandmother, there would be no Sha’Carri Richardson. My family is my everything, my everything until the day I’m done.”
Not only did Richardson win with a 10.86 runtime on Saturday, taking home the title of the ‘Fastest Woman in America.’ Richardson is also the youngest woman to win the 100 meters at an Olympic trial since 1980.
On the other hand, the world’s greatest HBCU made history yet again and will head to the Olympics for the first time since 1992. It was a standout moment for the track program and Coach Duane Ross.
His 20-year-old son, Randolph Ross, makes the U.S. Olympic team on Father’s Day and is going to represent his country. As you can imagine the overwhelming feeling a father would have, all of his coaching etiquettes go out the window to congratulate his son!
“The father came out in me,” said Ross. “For him to do something at this level, at his age, he had me in tears.”
Ross Jr. says, “I got support and inspiration from my family,” He continued, “My dad and I have been getting ready for this moment. I’ve been training for it all year. I have had a couple of great moments in college, but this is the moment everyone trains for, waits for; it has just been all about determination.”
Randolph Ross Jr finished third in the men’s 400-meter final at the Trials with a time of 44.74. Ross Jr. will join his other Aggies in the Olympics. Trevor Stewart will be a part of the 4×400-meter relay team in Tokyo. Akeem Sirleaf will run for Liberia, and Daniel Stokes will compete for Mexico.
The Aggies have their first Olympians since Troy Douglas, and Ruth Morris participated in the Olympics in 1992.
