Sha'Carri Ricardson revealed the soul-stirring meaning behind her iconic 'I'm not back. I'm better' quote

Sha’Carri Richardson recently revealed the deeper meaning of her phrase, “I’m not back. I’m better,” and the explanation will give you chills.

Sha’Carri has been through a lot over the last several years. In 2021, while dealing with the unexpected death of her biological mother, she failed a drug test after testing positive for marijuana. She was subsequently barred from competing in the 2021 Olympic Games. Richardson never shied away from admitting that her actions were wrong — even issuing a public apology to take accountability — and instead went back to work on her craft.

In 2023, at the Track and Field World Championships, Sha’Carri ran a 10.65 100-meter race. Her official time was the fastest on record in the history of the race at the event. Afterward, she confidently said, “I’m not back. I’m better.” In a recent interview with Maya Singer of Vogue, she explained what that phrase meant:

“I don’t just mean I’m a better runner,” Richardson tells me when I ask about her credo. “It’s beyond that. I’m better at being Sha’Carri. I’m better at being myself.”