Heading for her maiden Olympic event in Paris, American track running prodigy Sha’carri Richardson expressed her admiration for former LSU icon Angel Reese, proclaiming her as the top athlete from Baton Rouge.

Richardson qualified for the Paris Olympics in the 100m discipline as she finished at the top during the 100m finals at the US Olympic Trials held at the Hayward Field Stadium in Eugene. She clocked the world lead time of 10.71 seconds to secure her Olympic ticket in some style while sending a statement to her competitors.

Mirroring her active career, Richardson is equally busy off-court, collaborating with major brands for promotions. Her latest venture is a partnership with the American sports drink brand Powerade. Powerade launched a new Olympic campaign titled “It Takes More” for the Paris Games, featuring the reigning world champion.

During a discussion, Sha’Carri Richardson was asked about her Louisiana State University days, when she used to compete as the top athlete for the LSU Tigers.

“It’s incredible to see the athletes and level of talent that comes out of LSU, and I’m proud to represent them,” she said.

While talking about her fellow LSU Tigers athlete and now a pro for Chicago Sky in WNBA Angel Reese, the 24-year-old added:

“Angel [Reese] is doing her thang. I honestly think she could be one of the best athletes ever to come out of Baton Rouge.”

Sha’Carri Richardson finds Angel Reese inspiring

Sha’Carri Richardson signed as a freshman with the LSU Tigers in 2019 and represented the team for one season. She clinched her first NCAA title that year with ease, clocking the ninth-fastest time in the world at 10.75 seconds.

In contrast, her fellow LSU friend Angel Reese competed for the program for two seasons, winning the NCAA title in 2023 with incredible personal statistics, averaging 23.0 points and 15.4 rebounds, for which she was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA championships.

Both of them are done with their stints at LSU, but Sha’Carri Richardson still finds ways to appreciate Reese. During an interview with Wonderland Magazine, the Dallas native said that she finds Angel Reese and Naomi Osaka inspiring.

“It’s always cool to connect with amazing women. We shot the campaigns separately but it means a lot to be connected to young female athletes who are dominating in their respective sports. They are not just an inspiration to me but they’re an inspiration to young women around the world,” she said.

She added that they are doing things their way while staying true to their authentic selves, which is a sentiment she connects with.