U.S. sprinter Sha’carri Richardson was arrested on Thursday in Florida for reckless driving after reports indicated she was driving at over 100 miles per hour.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office charged Richardson with dangerous and excessive speeding, setting her bond at $500.
Richardson, 25, is the former world champion in the 100-meter dash and won a silver medal in the 100m and a gold in the relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This incident adds to a history of public controversies for the athlete.
Last July, Richardson was briefly detained at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport following an altercation with her boyfriend, fellow sprinter Christian Coleman, though no charges were filed after she issued a public apology.
She was also barred from competing in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics after testing positive for marijuana following her victory at the U.S. trials, which resulted in a one-month suspension.
The charges fall under Florida’s “Super Speeder Law,” enacted last July to combat a rise in fatal road accidents. The law criminalizes driving more than 50 mph over the speed limit or exceeding 100 mph. A first-time conviction can result in up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.
