Athletes resumed competing in 2021 following the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics taking place that year. Opportunities and difficulties arose at this time for several Black female athletes such as the American Sha’Carri Richardson and the Jamaican Junelle Bromfield.
Sha’Carri’s story demonstrated tenacity; even though she ran a 10.86-second 100-metre trial, a positive THC test ended her Olympic dreams. The death of Richardson’s biological mother, who passed away just days before the US Olympic trials, compounded this setback. Richardson was reared by her grandmother and aunt. This year put a lot of athletes to the test and showed their unwavering character in the face of hardship.
Junelle Bromfield experienced tremendous personal obstacles in 2021 while preparing herself intensely for the Tokyo Games. She was informed of her mother’s tragic cancer diagnosis and eventual death.
Though she did not race in the finals, Bromfield’s vital contribution to Jamaica’s 4×400 metre relay team during the heats ensured their qualification for the finals. She later shared on Facebook the emotional rollercoaster she went through in an attempt to earn a spot on Jamaica’s Olympic team.
How Junelle Bromfield and Sha’Carri Richardson overcame hardship
Sha’Carri Richardson made a memorable comeback to the track at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest with an incredible show of strength and resolve. Richardson won two gold medals and a bronze on her debut, dominating the competition with unmatched intensity and energy. Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, two prominent Jamaican athletes, were left in her wake as she ran an incredible 10.65 seconds to win the 100 metres.
Bromfield has established herself as a prominent figure in relay competitions, winning medals at major gatherings, including the Commonwealth Games, the NACAC Championships, the 2022 World Indoor Championships, and the 2022 World Championships.
Her victory at the Jamaican Olympic trials last week guaranteed her a berth in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. She competed admirably, setting a personal best time of 50.74 seconds in the semi-finals and placing third in the final with 51.24 seconds. She is guaranteed a spot in the Olympic team, thanks to this incredible accomplishment.