Christian Coleman Defends Sha'Carri Richardson After Alleged Assault: 'She Has Things...'

Last Updated:August 04, 2025, 10:02 IST

Christian Coleman has defended Sha'Carri Richardson after her arrest for allegedly assaulting him at Seattle-Tacoma Airport.

Christian Coleman (left) and Sha'Carri Richardson. (AFP/AP)

Christian Coleman defended his partner Sha’Carri Richardson on Sunday, a week after the reigning women’s 100m world champion was arrested for allegedly assaulting him at a US airport. Speaking after finishing sixth in the 200m at the US track championships in Eugene, Oregon, Coleman expressed his belief that Richardson should not have been detained following the incident at Seattle-Tacoma Airport last Sunday.

Richardson spent a night in jail after being detained, with a police report later stating that she was caught on video repeatedly shoving Coleman forcefully.

“For me personally, I feel like it was a sucky situation all round," Coleman said when asked about the incident by AFP. “I don’t feel like she should have been arrested. I mean, people have discussions and emotions and stuff like that. She has things that she needs to work on for herself, of course. So do I, so do you, so does everybody. But I’m the type of guy who’s in the business of extending grace, mercy, and love."

Coleman, the 2019 world 100m champion, said the controversy had not affected his championships, where he failed to secure a top-three finish in both the 100m and 200m. He will still head to Tokyo as part of the US relay pool.

Meanwhile, Richardson failed to qualify for the 200m earlier on Sunday. She declined to speak to reporters afterward, other than to wish the media a “blessed day." Coleman is confident the 25-year-old Texan will bounce back for the rest of the season.

“It didn’t affect me," Coleman said of last Sunday’s incident. “She’s a human being and a great person, and I feel like we’ve been able to be really good teammates all year. We’re just two dominant personalities. To me, she’s the best female athlete in the world. She’s just had a lot of things going on, a lot of emotions and forces going on inside of her that not only I can’t understand, but nobody can. Because she’s one-of-one. I know it’s been a tough journey for her this year.

“But she’s going to bounce back because she’s the best female athlete in the world. I see it every day. She’s going to be just fine. She’s going to be good, and I’m going to be good too."

With AFP Inputs

Feroz Khan

Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital...Read More

Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital...

Read More

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First Published:

August 04, 2025, 10:02 IST

News sports Christian Coleman Defends Sha'Carri Richardson After Alleged Assault: 'She Has Things...'

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