On 5/4, Sha’Carri Richardson opened her season in rural Australia with a 120m grass race, competing against amateur athletes who had a nearly 10m head start. Despite starting in the last position, the American superstar finished first with a time of 13,15 seconds, setting a new event record and earning 27.800 USD in prize money.

Sha’Carri Richardson wins Stawell Gift 2026 on 5/4. *Photo: Stawell Gift*

Richardson's victory marked a rare achievement in the event's history. At the finish line, she caught up with 17-year-old Australian athlete Charlotte Nielsen, who had a 9m head start, winning by 0,04 seconds. This marks the third time in history a female athlete has won the Stawell Gift from the last position, following Bree Rizzo (2025) and Melissa Breen (2012). Earlier, Richardson had easily advanced through the heats with 13,82 seconds and the semifinals with 13,52 seconds. "I think I realized I was going to win when I passed the 90m mark", the 26-year-old athlete shared. "The love, support, and genuine joy I felt on the track, everyone made this moment happen. Thank you all".

Sha’Carri Richardson finishes first in the Stawell Gift 2026 final.

The Stawell Gift is Australia's oldest sprint race, held on the grass track of Central Park in Stawell, a town about three hours' drive from Melbourne, during the Easter holiday. A unique feature is its handicap system, which allows amateur athletes to compete alongside professionals: slower runners are given a head start, while the fastest athletes begin from the back and must "chase down" their competitors.

Richardson's win further cemented her status as a leading figure in American track and field. She has been a prominent figure in short-distance events over the past decade, winning a gold medal in the 4x100m relay and a silver medal in the 100m at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Prior to that, Richardson earned a gold medal in the 4x100m relay, a gold medal in the 100m, and a bronze medal in the 200m at the Budapest 2023 World Championships. Richardson is the first female Olympic and World Champion athlete to compete in the Stawell Gift in the event's 144-year history.

Christian Coleman disappointed after failing to reach the Stawell Gift final. *Photo: Stawell Gift*

Richardson's boyfriend, Christian Coleman, also made his debut at the event, starting last. However, he was eliminated in the men's semifinals. In the final, Australian athlete Olufemi Komolafe finished first with 11,93 seconds, while Jake Ireland placed second with 12,07 seconds. Komolafe, 21, a fourth-year medical student, expressed regret at not competing against his "idol" Coleman, which was his initial motivation for entering the race. "I gave it my all", Coleman shared after the semifinals. "When you give them that kind of head start, it's really tough. I hope everyone continues to follow and support track and field. I'm excited for the new season, trying to improve in the last 40-100m".

Coleman's career has seen both highs and significant setbacks. Born in 1996, he was once anticipated to succeed legendary Usain Bolt in the 100m sprint. His career peak came in 2019 when he won the 100m World Championship in Doha with a time of 9,76 seconds. However, Coleman's career was severely interrupted after an 18-month ban for violating doping control regulations, causing him to miss the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Since then, he has struggled to regain his form, consistently participating in major competitions but no longer holding the top position.

Hong Duy (according to Canadian Running Magazine, The Guardian)