Sha’Carri Richardson is a 25-year-old American sprinter who competes in the 100 meters and 200 meters.

She rose to fame in 2019 as a Louisiana State University freshman, breaking the 100m collegiate record with 10.75 seconds.

Richardson won gold at the 2023 World Championships and silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She identifies as bisexual and was raised by her grandmother in Dallas, Texas.

2025: Current Relationship with Coleman

Richardson is currently in a relationship with fellow Olympic sprinter Christian Coleman, so she does not have a girlfriend at this time.

The pair appeared publicly together in December 2024 at the USATF Night of Legends, which effectively confirmed months of speculation.

They have since shared multiple social media posts together, celebrated each other’s birthdays, and attended events like the Super Bowl and Met Gala 2025.

2024: “Mystery Partner” and Girlfriend Rumors

During the 2024 Olympics, Richardson gave fans hints about someone special in her life without revealing who it was.

Rose bouquets, a teddy bear with “love of my life,” and a National Girlfriend’s Day post triggered widespread guessing about a secret romance.

These posts sparked tons of speculation online. Fans started guessing who might be sending the flowers and gifts.

Richardson gave no names or clear hints about her mystery partner’s identity. The social media posts were the only clues fans had to work with.

The identity of her “mystery partner” wouldn’t become clear until months later. That mystery person turned out to be Coleman.

2019–2022: Janeek Brown and Breakup

Sha’Carri Richardson dated Jamaican hurdler Janeek Brown from 2019 to 2022 after they met at an award show. Richardson was 19 and Brown was 21 when they started dating.

The couple was open about their relationship, with Richardson mentioning her girlfriend in interviews.

In 2021, Richardson told USA Today that she even credited Brown with helping pick her signature hair color.

However, the relationship took a dark turn. In 2022, after their breakup, she took to Instagram with serious allegations about what happened during their time together.

She wrote,

“I was in a relationship with a Jamaican athlete that never cared about me from the jump. I was abused and stole from, yet protected her from the judgement of her country and family while they dragged me.”

Initially, Brown denied the allegations on social media, calling them “complete lies”.

But that changed quickly. During a virtual interview, Brown admitted to the abuse allegations Richardson had made.

Brown said,

“I was abusive once that there’s physical evidence of “

“And we moved on, and even after then I was trying to move on from that, we still got nowhere.”

Brown also said during the interview,

“Yeah, I was going through something, I was finding myself. So yeah, it’s a transformation. I’m going to find myself now.”

July 27, 2025 Airport Incident: Facts on Record

On July 27, 2025, Sha’Carri Richardson was arrested at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on a fourth-degree domestic violence charge.

According to police reports, a TSA supervisor witnessed Richardson strike a man during a verbal altercation at the checkpoint.

Police reviewed TSA camera footage and reported Richardson taking a backpack, pushing her partner, and throwing an object characterized as headphones. She was booked and later released.

The man, identified publicly as Christian Coleman, told police Richardson was his girlfriend.

Richardson was booked into the South Correctional Entity in Des Moines, Washington, at 6:54 p.m. on Sunday and released on Monday at 1:13 p.m.

He didn’t want to pursue charges, according to police.

Aftermath & Public Statements by Richardson

Days later, Richardson addressed the situation on Instagram, saying she had put herself in a “compromised situation.”

She then issued a written apology to Coleman on Tuesday morning, writing

“I love him & to him I can’t apologize enough”

and adding that her apology

“should be just as loud”

as her “actions”. In a separate post, she wrote,

“To Christian I love you & I am so sorry”.

Richardson later said she would seek help.

Coleman publicly defended his girlfriend after the arrest. Speaking to reporters, he said,

“I don’t feel as if like she should have been arrested”

and called it

“just a sucky situation all around”.

He also stated,

“People have emotions and stuff like that, and she has things she gotta work on for herself. So do I, so do you”.

In another interview, Coleman showed continued support,

“She’s a human being, and a great person… She has a lot of things going on, a lot of emotions and forces going on inside of her that not only I can’t understand, but nobody can. She’s one of one. And I’m one of one too”.

Coleman expressed confidence in Richardson’s ability to recover, saying,

“It’s been a tough year for her this year, but she’s going to bounce back and like I said, I see it every day. She is the best female athlete in the world and she going to be just fine”.

USA Track and Field issued a brief statement,

“USATF is aware of the reports and is not commenting on this matter”.

Legal Context: Fourth-Degree DV Assault in Washington

Fourth-degree domestic violence assault involves intentionally harming a family member or partner. This includes pushing, slapping, hitting, or creating fear of harm.

Penalties:

• Up to 364 days in jail
• Fines up to $5,000
• Loss of gun rights
• Voting restrictions
• Employment challenges

No physical injury is required. You can be charged simply for making someone fear they might be hurt.

This charge applies to actions against family members, household members, or romantic partners in Washington State.

Case Outcome: Coleman’s Position and Current Status

Coleman told police he didn’t want to pursue charges. The case has since been cleared. Richardson faced no conviction or penalties from this incident.

While Washington treats domestic-violence cases seriously, prosecutors still apply evidence-based discretion.

Evidence in The Public Record

Various records state the evidence in the public records against Richardson:

• Available documentation: Police reports from the Port of Seattle Police Department detail the incident, including TSA supervisor witness accounts and security camera footage review. TMZ Sports obtained and published surveillance video footage from the airport showing the altercation.
• Media coverage standards: Major news outlets, including CBS News, NBC News, and Yahoo Sports, reported based on official police records rather than speculation.
• Responsible reporting approach: Credible sources focus on documented facts from official reports. News outlets included editor’s notes about covering alleged domestic violence, showing awareness of sensitive subject matter.
• Public records access: Court and jail records confirm booking and release times. These official documents provide verifiable information without relying on potentially harmful video content or unverified claims.

Bottom Line

Richardson’s legal situation was resolved without conviction, allowing her athletic career to continue uninterrupted.

As the defending 100m world champion, she maintains automatic qualification for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, scheduled for September.

While she struggled at the 2025 USATF Nationals following the incident, failing to advance in some events, her championship status ensures she’ll compete on the world stage.

The airport incident represents a personal challenge rather than a career-ending controversy. Her athletic achievements remain intact, and her relationship with Coleman continues publicly.

The situation highlights how personal struggles can intersect with public life for high-profile athletes, but also demonstrates the possibility of accountability and growth.

What are your thoughts on how athletes should handle personal controversies? Share your viewpoint in the comments below.