Sha'Carri Richardson Enters Plea in 'Super Speeder' Case

UPDATE Feb 5, 2026 12:30 AM CST

Sha'Carri Richardson pleaded not guilty this week to the "super speeder" charge she faces in Florida, NBC News reports. More details have been released about the 25-year-old Olympic gold medalist's Jan. 29 arrest for allegedly driving 104mph, after which she reportedly told officers she was speeding because her back tire was underinflated and she didn't mean to be going so fast. Two other Olympians later pulled over near Richardson were cited for stopping on a limited access highway; one of them, Christian Coleman, who claimed to be Richardson's boyfriend, was arrested for allegedly refusing to show his ID. He was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and has pleaded not guilty.

Jan 30, 2026 1:00 AM CST

Sha'Carri Richardson's latest headline has nothing to do with a finish line, NBC News reports. The 25-year-old Olympic sprint star was arrested Thursday in Orange County, Fla., on a charge of driving more than 100mph, according to jail records. She was booked on a count tied to the state's new "super speeder" statute, which targets drivers going at least 50mph over the limit or above 100mph. Her bond was set at $500; WESH reports she posted it and was released. Representatives for Richardson and USA Track & Field did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Richardson was allegedly going 104mph on a parkway outside Orlando, the AP reports. An Orange County Sheriff's Department spokesperson says she was "dangerously tailgating and traveling across lanes of travel to pass other motorists."

Florida's law, which took effect July 1, allows for up to 30 days in jail or a $500 fine for a first conviction, with stiffer penalties and possible license revocation for repeat offenders. Richardson is coming off a standout performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she took silver in the 100 meters and gold in the 4x100 relay. Her off-track life has been more turbulent: She was arrested in August after an alleged altercation with her boyfriend at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport; he declined to press charges, and she later apologized on social media. In 2021, she served a one-month suspension after testing positive for THC at the US Olympic trials, sidelining her from the Tokyo Games in her marquee event.