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Sha’Carri Richardson Seemingly Confirms She’s Taken Amid Dating Rumors About Her & THIS Athlete (PHOTOS)

Sha’Carri Richardson is in her “loving era.” The Olympian recently opened up to ESSENCE about her Ws and lessons and entering her soft life era. Now, her supporters are questioning whether Christian Coleman is assisting her in the lifestyle change!

Here’s the context. Richardson’s stunning magazine cover photos and interview dropped just days after she seemingly soft-launched her rumored runner boo on social media. Keep scrolling to catch up!

What’s Tea With Richardson & Christian Coleman?

Richardson and Christian Coleman first sparked lil’ talks after he hugged Sha’Carri at the 2023 Budapest World Championships. She became the women’s 100m world champion at that match, and the way Christian embraced her then caused a couple of side eyes!

She jumped into his arms as the rest of their fellow Team USA also ran towards her, and they both fell to the ground.

As reportedby TheJasmineBrand, she and Christian attended the USATF Night of Legends function on December 7. On her Instagram Stories, the two appeared close and cozy, in that more-than-running-champs kind of way. In a boomerang selfie video, the two shared sweet smiles with their heads pressed together. On his Instagram Stories, he shared a photo of him holding the event booklet and Sha’Carri’s colorful claws resting on his hand.

Mind you, last month, Sha’Carri also shared a carousel post feeding the dating chatter. In one photo, she’s wearing a bikini shot with what looked to be Coleman’s diamond chain around her neck. In another photo taken from the back, she’s hugged up with a man who resembles Christian. See the post here.

Sha’Carri Seemingly Confirms Having A “Relationship”

While speaking to ESSENCE, Sha’Carri shared that connections with her loved ones and faith is top priority now. In her quote about the topic, she mentioned a “relationship.”

“I feel like in my spirituality, Im aligning myself with keeping my faith. When it comes to my family, Ive grown closer to them. I love the fact that in areas of my feminine side, Im thriving. Connecting with my family, with my relationship, just different things thatI know if I wasnt an athlete, these things would still make me me.”

If you didn’t know, the athlete came out as bisexual in 2015 on Twitter. Richardson’s last public relationship was with Jamaican track hurdler Janeek Brown from 2019 until 2022. After it ended, Sha’Carri, without naming Brown, seemingly accused her of abuse and theft. Janeek later owned one incident of abuse, and said they had chosen to move on. “I was going through something, I was finding myself,” Janeek reportedly said on Instagram Live.

In the interview, Richardson also opened up about life feeling “brighter” and no longer living in “survival mode.” Instead, she’s stepped into her “divine feminine” and soft life era. Therapy, she told ESSENCE, helped her get there.

Sha’Carri Shows OUT In ESSENCE Cover

Sha’Carri Richardsonslayed the shoot in looks pulled by Maryland stylist Becky Akinyode. On one cover version, the track superstar wore a black sheer bodysuit with a fur coat from Mugler and Haider Ackerman and icy diamonds from Cartier.

Other looks for the interview gave grown, classy, sophisticated energy. A bright red, off-shoulder, long-sleeved red dress with matching tights in one shot. A cream-fur turtleneck and cardigan look for another. There were also looks that highlighted Sha’Carri’s outgoing personality — large hoop earrings and her signature claws, for example. A second red dress made her Olympian legs the star of the show! Swipe below to peep her moment.

“Gracing the cover is almost history for me. It’s going to show my journey of transformation. I actually remember my grandmother having magazines, and ESSENCE being one of those magazines.,” ‘Carri said.

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Cassandra Santiago

Cassandra Santiago is a multimedia journalist, editor, and editorial strategist with over a decade of experience shaping conversations across arts, entertainment, culture, and global news. A graduate of the University of Iowa, she has built a cross-platform career spanning newspapers, magazines, radio, and digital media. She joined The Shade Room five years ago and currently serves as a Senior Editor, where she leads editorial direction, oversees exclusive coverage, and trains and edits a team of writers. Cassandra has played a key role in developing high-impact content and editorial strategies for an audience of more than 30 million, contributing to platform growth, engagement, and monetization across multiple channels. In addition to her leadership role, she remains a daily contributor, with her articles generating more than 41 million views since 2023. Beyond The Shade Room, Cassandra offers freelance social media strategy services, speaks on the influence and impact of Black media at public panels, and owns Did It For You, an event design company in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. She is Poynter Institute–certified and was named to the DMV’s 35 Under 35 list in 2024.

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