Olympic gold medalist Sha’Carri Richardson was arrested in Florida on Thursday after deputies said she was driving more than 100 miles per hour on a highway near Orlando.
Richardson, 25, was stopped on State Road 429 near Stoneybrook Parkway and charged with dangerous excessive speeding, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said she was traveling at 104 mph while tailgating other vehicles and changing lanes to pass traffic.
She was released later that night after posting bond, according to local reports.
Traffic stop near Orlando
The sheriff’s office said a deputy initiated the stop after observing a vehicle speeding well above the limit and driving aggressively. Authorities identified Richardson as the driver.
Under Florida’s “super speeder” law, which took effect last year, drivers can be charged if they exceed 100 mph or travel more than 50 mph over the posted speed limit. A first conviction can carry penalties of up to 30 days in jail or a $500 fine.
Richardson was booked into the Orange County Jail on Thursday and released after meeting her bond, according to CBS Orlando affiliate WKMG-TV.
Second arrest within a year
The speeding charge marks Richardson’s second arrest in less than a year.
In August, she was arrested at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport following a domestic violence incident at a TSA checkpoint. According to police reports, Richardson and a man identified as her boyfriend became involved in an argument. Officers said video footage showed Richardson pushing him, causing him to fall into a column, and later throwing a pair of headphones.
The man declined to press charges, and the case was later cleared. Richardson publicly apologized afterward, saying she had taken time for “self-reflection” and accepted responsibility for her actions.
A decorated but scrutinized career
Richardson is one of the most recognizable figures in track and field. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she won gold as part of the U.S. women’s 4×100-meter relay team and earned silver in the 100m, her Olympic debut.
Her rise has included both acclaim and controversy. In 2021, she received a 30-day suspension after testing positive for THC at the U.S. Olympic trials, which prevented her from competing in the 100m at the Tokyo Olympics. Richardson later said she used marijuana while coping with the death of her biological mother.
In Dallas, where she grew up and trained, her impact has been formally recognized. In 2023, the track at John Kincaide Stadium in South Dallas was renamed the Sha’Carri Richardson Track, and the city declared Nov. 10 as Sha’Carri Richardson Day following a unanimous vote by the Dallas Independent School District board.
USA Track and Field and Richardson’s representatives had not commented publicly on the Florida arrest as of Friday morning.
For now, one of the fastest women in the world is facing questions not about her next race, but about her conduct away from the track.
