Passion Richardson facts for kids
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| Born | January 25, 1975 Fort Bragg, North Carolina, United States |
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| Sport | Track and field | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Kentucky Wildcats | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Passion J. Richardson, born on January 25, 1975, is an American former track and field athlete. She was a talented sprinter. She is best known for her success with the American women's 4 × 100 m relay team.
She won several medals in relay races. This included a bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics. She also earned a gold medal at the 1997 Summer Universiade. She won a silver medal at the 1999 Pan American Games. After her athletic career, she became a track coach.
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Passion Richardson's Athletic Journey
Passion Richardson was born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. She grew up in Ohio and went to Berea High School. After high school, she studied marketing at the University of Kentucky. While there, she competed for the Kentucky Wildcats sports team. She was recognized as an All-American athlete four times.
In 1997, she achieved her fastest time in the 100-meter race. She ran it in 11.28 seconds. That same year, she won her first international medal. It was a gold medal in the 4 × 100 m relay at the 1997 Summer Universiade. She also ran the 60-meter dash in 7.20 seconds.
Competing at Major Events
In 1999, Passion Richardson won another international medal. Her team earned a silver medal in the 4 × 100 m relay at the 1999 Pan American Games. She also competed in national championships. She was a finalist in both the 60-meter and 100-meter races.
In 2000, she placed second in the 60-meter dash at the USA Indoor Championships. This was a great achievement for her. She also competed in the Olympic Trials. Her performance earned her a spot as an alternate runner for the U.S. team.
The 2000 Sydney Olympics
At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Passion Richardson ran in the early rounds of the 4 × 100 m relay. She helped her team reach the final race. However, another runner, Marion Jones, took her place in the final. Later, Marion Jones admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs.
Passion Richardson and her teammates wanted to keep their bronze medals. They appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Passion stated that she competed fairly. She believed she should not lose her medal because of someone else's actions. She shared her thoughts on The Early Show.
Life After Competition
After the Sydney Olympics, Passion Richardson's competitive career began to slow down. Her last national competition was in 2001. She finished fifth in the 60-meter dash at the indoor championships.
Later that year, she returned to the University of Kentucky. She became an assistant coach for the Kentucky Wildcats track team. She now helps new athletes achieve their goals.
Passion Richardson's Best Times
Here are Passion Richardson's personal best times in different sprint races:
- 55-meter dash – 6.83 seconds (1999)
- 60-meter dash – 7.20 seconds (1997)
- 100-meter dash – 11.28 seconds (1997)
- 200-meter dash – 23.56 seconds (2000)
See also
In Spanish: Passion Richardson para niños
