Sanya Richards-Ross may not have competed in the 2016 Olympic Games in the 400m but she made it to Cidade Maravilhosa (The Marvelous City) another way. The former Jamican-American track and field athlete who competed internationally for the United States did not qualify for her fourth games, but her love for broadcasting provided her the opportunity to be on the other side of her sport as she commentated the remainder of the Olympic Trials before flying to Rio de Janeiro to help cover the Olympic Games.
1. Her passion for the sport of track and field.
2 ½ weeks before Richards-Ross’s 400m Olympic qualifying race she received a grade-two hamstring injury running the 100m at a meet held in Atlanta. With about a four-six week recovery time frame, she wanted to give the race that she earned gold in during the 2012 London Games a shot.
Richards-Ross won the American outdoor time four years prior to this year’s games as she got a record-winning time of 48.70 seconds.
She did an interview with ESPN that exemplified her love for the sport of track and field while reflecting on her journey.
"I'll always remember how the crowd reacted," Richards-Ross said.
"Someone asked before the race how would I love to go out, and I said I would just enjoy the moment," she said. "To be able to run a half a victory lap here at Hayward Field for my final 400 that I didn't finish, I thought was pretty special."
In front of a crowd of 20,987 people at the University of Oregon’s historic Hayward Field, the 4-time Olympic gold medalist was encouraged for a successful career as she entered retirement.
2. Her style.
A trend of Richards-Ross is her side braid. When she stepped out on the track to compete she usually found a way to incorporate her signature braid into whatever hairstyle she had.
3. Her drive.
Sanya wants to be remembered for her determination.
She competes from within.
"I don't win every time I step on the track, so I don't deserve [today's] ovation because I'm always a champion. But I think they just see my heart and my determination and my desire to be a good person. Hopefully, they saw a little of God in me every time I stepped in the track,” she added.
This is exactly what I saw when I watched her compete.
Especially, during her last Olympic qualifying opportunity her love for track and field showed. I'm sure she left some level of disappointment, she did not get the outcome she wanted and left the sport that she has known practically all her life but as the old proverb says, "When one door closes, another one opens."
Richards-Ross joined NBC Olympics with Ato Boldon not even a week after retiring July 1, 2016. She was able to began her broadcasting career covering the sport that she dedicated her life to since age 7.
4. Team SRR
On her Olympic journey, Sanya has had a team of supports who assisted in her success and who are still by her side today - her parents and managers Archie and Sharon Ross, track and field coach Clyde Hart, strength and condition coach Bruce Johnson and sports psychologist Dr. Donald Corley.
5. Her skill set.
One may consider Richards-Ross as the “jack of all trades.” She had a reality television show called, "Glam and Gold" which aired July 25, 2013, on WE television network. She also owns a hair salon in Austin, Texas called, The Hair Clinic, has a hair extension line called, Rich Hair Collection, was Formula X’s color curator for June 2016 as she presented a nail polish collection consisted of three bright colors – Warrior “my blue,” Victory Lap “pearlescent gold,” and “Lioness” a bold purple.
In an interview with US Magazine Richards-Ross describes the meaning behind her collection.
"The common thread in this collection is the idea of excellence. I’ve always strived for excellence in what I do, and I want these colors to inspire you and drive you to do something big, bold and great,” she said.
These are only a couple of Richards-Ross' many accomplishments.
What can we expect from Sanya Richards-Ross next?
