Sha’Carri Richardson Just Debuted Blue and Blonde Hair

Sha’Carri Richardson, the runner who, well, sprinted into our hearts this year as the “fastest woman in America,” her face exuberant and her hair a fiery bright orange, just shook up her look in a major way.

Richardson debuted the new look on Instagram, posting a TikTok uploaded by Orlando-based hairstylist Brianna Renee, who documents her clients’ looks on her popular page. In the short video, Richardson lip-synchs to a viral Nicki Minaj sound clip: “I took some time off to rest, now it’s game time, bitches.” In the first part, she has dark curls, presumably her natural, unprocessed hair. But after a swipe of the cape, she’s suddenly rocking long, blonde hair in the front, with blue underneath. And she’s suited up to run. 

“August 21 and I’m not playing nice 👊🏾,” she wrote in the caption, apparently teasing a return to her sport. We can’t wait.

Richardson’s time qualified her for this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, but after testing positive for a chemical found in marijuana, her time was disqualified and she did not compete in the Games. Once the story broke, Richardson explained in an interview that she used marijuana to cope with the sudden loss of her biological mother, which she found out about (from a reporter) when she was in Oregon for the Olympic trials.

“I would like to say to my friends, my family, my sponsorship, to the haters too: I apologize,” she said at the time. “As much as I’m disappointed, I know that when I step on the track, I don’t represent myself. I represent a community that has shown me great support, great love.” 

Her main sponsor, Nike, as well as many fans stood by the runner. Her Twitter bio currently reads, “Just know I’m not slowing down.” And with this new hair? It’s game time.