Sha’Carri Richardson’s boyfriend, fellow sprinter Christian Coleman, is now at the center of the conversation about her arrest after he refused to press charges, stating he “declined to be a victim.”
On Sunday, July 28, the Olympic sprinter found herself in handcuffs at the Seattle Tacoma International Airport after a physical dispute with her boyfriend, fellow Team USA star Christian Coleman. The two reportedly got into a heated exchange at the TSA security checkpoint, and, according to a police report, the situation escalated quickly.
Witnesses and security footage confirmed what many suspected: the argument wasn’t just verbal. Richardson allegedly shoved Coleman multiple times as he tried to walk away, even sending him tumbling into a column. And that’s not all, authorities say she threw a pair of headphones at him, too.
Despite what police described as probable cause for arrest, Christian Coleman did not cooperate with authorities when it came time to press charges. In fact, he told police he “declined to be a victim.”
The arrest resulted in a fourth-degree domestic violence assault charge, and Richardson was held in custody for almost 19 hours. She was released the following Monday.
The case has since been cleared, but the moment left fans stunned and divided.
For some, it was a shock to see America’s fastest woman in this kind of spotlight again. For others, the fact that Coleman declined to move forward legally speaks volumes. Was it love, loyalty, or just a desire to keep the situation private? Social media had thoughts.
Richardson and Coleman only went public with their relationship earlier this year, but according to Coleman’s own statement to police, the two have actually been together for two years.
Meanwhile, USA Track and Field has confirmed they’re aware of the reports, but they’re keeping things tight-lipped for now.
Sha’Carri Richardson had been competing at the USA Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, just days earlier. She ran a time of 11.07 seconds in the women’s 100-meter race—enough to qualify, but she has since withdrawn. She was also scheduled to compete in the 200-meter race this Sunday, though that status remains unclear.
Still, because she’s the reigning world champion in the 100-meter event, she’s got an automatic ticket to September’s World Championships in Tokyo, assuming she decides to go.
