Olympic gold medallist Sha’Carri Richardson has said she plans to seek help following her arrest at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on 27 July. The incident, captured on security video, showed the 25-year-old sprinter grabbing her boyfriend Christian Coleman's backpack and shoving him towards a wall.
In an Instagram post on Monday night, Richardson said: “I’m taking this time to not only see myself but get myself a certain level of help that overall is going to reflect who I truly am in my heart and my spirit.” She added that she was holding herself accountable and appreciated the support of her fans.
Richardson, who won silver in the 100m and gold in the 4x100m relay at the Paris Olympics, also issued an apology to Coleman, saying: “Due to my past trauma and pain, I was blind and blocked off to not only receive [unconditional love] but give it. I love him and to him I can’t apologise enough.”
Coleman, also a US sprinter, told the Athletic that Richardson is “a great person” with “a lot of emotions and forces going on inside”. He added: “I feel like it was just a sucky situation all around, I don’t feel as if she should have been arrested.”
