Sha’Carri Richardson made her Olympic debut today, and she blessed us with lightning speed, high pony magic, and gagworthy nails. She sped past her competition during round 1 of the women’s track and field 100-meter in Paris, her bejeweled acrylic set shining just like the star she is.
The set was a work of art, featuring a multicolored mosaic-like design that was topped off with intricate stones and beading. When it came to shape, Richardson opted for her signature lengthy stilettos. The look was especially impressive considering she rocked a completely different manicure at the opening ceremony on July 26. That day, she was obviously patriotic, pairing her Team USA Ralph Lauren blazer and blue jeans with an American flag-adorned manicure. How did she do it, you ask? We can assume they were press ons.
Richardson previously commissioned nail artist Sophia Kinaya Haug to create three different press on styles, which she wore during the Olympic track and field trials back in June. They were just as dramatic as you’d expect, equipped with 3D floral appliques, rubies, angel wings, and a cross. Richardson recently told Nylon that she gives her nail techs creative control over her nails. “So honestly, it’s really not me; it’s them—they just understand me just as a person,” the athlete told the publication. “And then for some reason, what they create just matches my energy and my vibe. So we’re locked in some energetic way. We’re all just locked in.”
Of course, Richardson isn’t the only track and field star to flaunt a fabulous mani. The late legend Florence “Flo-Jo” Griffith Joyner was known for her lengthy talons and has been a big influence for Richardson. “Flo-Jo came to the track and knew she was going to dominate. The way she did that was graceful. I always liked that,” Richardson told the Associated Press in 2021. “If the amazing Flo-Jo had long nails, there was no excuse why I couldn’t have long nails.”
