Passion Richardson facts for kids
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Women's athletics | ||
Representing the  United States |
||
| Olympic Games | ||
| Bronze | 2000 Sydney | 4 × 100 m relay |
| Pan American Games | ||
| Silver | 1999 Winnipeg | 4 × 100 m relay |
| Universiade | ||
| Gold | 1997 Catania | 4 × 100 m relay |
Passion J. Richardson (born January 25, 1975) is an American former track and field athlete. She was known for her amazing speed in sprinting races.
Most of her success came as part of the American women's 4 × 100 m relay team. This is a race where four athletes each run 100 meters. She helped her team win a bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. She ran in the early races (called "heats"), helping the team qualify for the final.
Later, one of her teammates, Marion Jones, admitted to using banned substances. Passion and her teammates fought to keep their medals. They appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which is like a special court for sports disputes.
Besides the Olympics, Passion won a gold medal at the 1997 Summer Universiade. This is a big sports event for university students. She also earned a silver medal at the 1999 Pan American Games. Individually, she was a top runner in the 100-meter dash at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 1999 and 2000. Her best national finish was second place in the 60-meter dash at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in 2000.
Passion retired from competing in 2001. She then returned to her old university, the University of Kentucky, to become a track coach.
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Passion Richardson's Early Life and Training
Passion J. Richardson was born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. She grew up in Ohio and went to Berea High School in Berea, Ohio. After finishing high school in 1993, she went to the University of Kentucky. There, she studied marketing.
While at the university, she competed in athletics for the Kentucky Wildcats team. She was recognized as an "All-American" four times. This means she was one of the best college athletes in the country. She was a finalist in the indoor 55 meters race in 1994 and 1996. She also reached the finals for the 4 × 100 meters relay in 1996 and the 100 meters race in 1997.
Passion Richardson's International Success
In 1997, Passion set her personal best time of 11.28 seconds in the 100 meters race. This happened at the United States Outdoor Track and Field Championships. That same year, she won her first international medal. It was a gold medal in the 4 × 100 meters relay at the 1997 World University Games. By the end of 1997, she also ran her fastest 60-meter dash in 7.20 seconds.
In 1998, she almost won a medal in the 60 meters at the United States Indoor Track and Field Championships, finishing fourth. In 1999, she reached the finals in both the 60 meters (sixth place) and the 100 meters (eighth place) at the national championships. She earned another international relay medal at the 1999 Pan American Games. Her team won the silver medal there.
Passion Richardson at the 2000 Olympics
At the 2000 USA Indoor Championships, Passion took second place in the 60 meters. She matched her personal best time. She finished eighth at the United States Olympic Trials. This strong finish earned her a spot as an alternate runner for the United States at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Passion ran in the early heats and semi-finals for the relay team. She ran alongside Chryste Gaines, Torri Edwards, and Nanceen Perry. For the final race, Marion Jones took Passion's place. Later, Marion Jones admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs during the Games.
Because of this, the Olympic committee decided to take away the medals from the entire relay team. Passion and her teammates disagreed with this decision. They filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Passion spoke about it in an interview, saying she competed fairly. She believed she should not lose her medal because of someone else's choices.
Passion Richardson's Retirement and Coaching
After the Sydney Olympics, Passion's competitive career began to slow down. Her last national performance was a fifth-place finish in the 60 meters at the national indoor championships. In the middle of that year, she returned to the University of Kentucky. She became an assistant coach for the Kentucky Wildcats track team.
Passion Richardson's Personal Records
- 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
