Coleman defends 'great person' Richardson after assault controversy
Speaking after a sixth-place finish in the 200m at the US track championships at Eugene, Oregon, Coleman said he believed 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 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, and 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.
Richardson meanwhile failed to qualify for the 200m earlier Sunday. She declined to speak to reporters afterwards, other than to wish media a "blessed day."
But Coleman is backing the 25-year-old Texan to 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 you know, we've been able to be really good team-mates 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, 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 gonna bounce back because she's the best female athlete in the world. I see it every day. She's gonna be just fine. She gonna be good, and I'm gonna be good too." — AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
40 minutes ago
- The Star
Athletics-Coleman defends Richardson after reported arrest
FILE PHOTO: Jul 31, 2025; Eugene, OR, USA; Sha'Carri Richardson places second in women's 100m heat in 11.07 during the USATF Championships at Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images/File Photo (Reuters) -Christian Coleman defended fellow sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson after she was reportedly arrested for pushing Coleman, saying on Sunday that she was a "great person". Reigning 100 metres world champion Richardson was arrested for domestic violence at a Seattle airport ahead of the U.S. Track & Field Championships, USA TODAY Sports reported on Friday. According to a police report obtained by USA TODAY Sports, the 25-year-old, who won Olympic silver in the 100 at the Paris Games, allegedly pushed Coleman, who then fell into a nearby column after an argument. Richardson was detained on the evening of July 27 and released the following day, USA TODAY Sports reported. "For me personally, I feel like it was a sucky situation all round. I don't feel like she should have been arrested. I mean people have discussions and emotions and stuff like that," 2019 world 100m champion Coleman told reporters at the Championships in Eugene, Oregon. "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, and mercy and love... "She's a human being and a great person. To me she's the best female athlete in the world. I see it every day." Port of Seattle Police Department and Richardson's agent did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. Richardson withdrew from the 100 semi-finals in Eugene, Oregon on Friday after participating in Thursday's heats, before failing to qualify for the 200m final on Sunday. She is guaranteed a spot in the 100 at the world championships in Tokyo next month due to her win at Budapest in 2023. (Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Noah Lyles and Jefferson-Wooden dominate US trials with world-leading performances
NOAH Lyles delivered a statement performance at the US trials, winning the men's 200m in a world-leading 19.63 seconds, while Melissa Jefferson-Wooden secured a sprint double in the women's events. Lyles, the reigning world champion in both 100m and 200m, surged past Kenny Bednarek in the closing stages, crossing the line in 19.63s. The race ended with tension as Lyles turned to stare at Bednarek, who responded with a shove post-finish. 'Under coach's orders, no comment,' Lyles said, while Bednarek criticized the gesture as 'unsportsmanlike.' Jefferson-Wooden continued her dominance, adding the 200m title (21.84s) to her 100m victory. Olympic champion Gabby Thomas narrowly secured third place, earning her spot for the World Championships in Tokyo. Elsewhere, Rai Benjamin (400m hurdles) and Dalilah Muhammad (women's 400m hurdles) booked their Tokyo tickets with commanding wins. Donavan Brazier marked his comeback with an 800m victory (1:42.16), while 16-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus set a new under-18 world record (1:42.27). Sha'Carri Richardson missed the 200m final after her recent arrest, limiting her to the 100m in Tokyo. - AFP
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
De Minaur battles past Tiafoe into Toronto Masters quarter-finals
ALEX de Minaur continued his strong form by defeating Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 to advance to the quarter-finals of the ATP Toronto Masters. The Australian, fresh off his Washington title win, extended his winning streak to seven matches in a gruelling encounter lasting just under two and a half hours. De Minaur, the ninth seed, will next face the winner of the match between Italian Flavio Cobolli and American fourth seed Ben Shelton. Despite the victory, the Australian voiced concerns over the new 12-day Masters schedule, which has disrupted player routines. 'I didn't enjoy having so much time off. The body is used to going and going,' he said. The match saw nearly 50 unforced errors from Tiafoe, with De Minaur overcoming a mid-match slump in the second set. 'It was never gonna be easy. He's got the ability to switch it on whenever he wants,' De Minaur admitted. 'I was just happy to sneak away with this win.' Meanwhile, sixth seed Andrey Rublev secured his 14th Masters quarter-final after Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina retired at 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/2), 3-0 due to possible cramping. Rublev, last year's runner-up in Montreal, will face either Jiri Lehecka or Taylor Fritz next. - AFP
