Olympic gold hopeful and U.S. sprinting sensation Sha’Carri Richardson was arrested at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport following an alleged domestic altercation involving her partner and fellow track star, Christian Coleman.
According to The Athletic, the 25-year-old sprinter was detained by airport police after a dispute reportedly turned physical at a TSA security checkpoint. Surveillance footage allegedly showed Richardson pushing Coleman several times as he attempted to walk away. She was subsequently booked for fourth-degree domestic violence assault.
Coleman, the 2019 World Champion in the 100 meters, declined to press charges and refused to be listed as a victim, the report adds.
Richardson was held at the SCORE South Correctional Facility in Des Moines, Washington, for nearly 19 hours before her release on Monday. Court records confirm the arrest and subsequent release but do not indicate whether charges will be pursued further.
The incident unfolded as both athletes were participating in the 2025 U.S. Track and Field Championships. Richardson ran a time of 11.07 seconds in the women’s 100-meter preliminary round on Thursday, easily advancing to the semifinals. As the reigning national champion, she already holds a bye into the upcoming World Championships.
The pair have reportedly been dating for over two years but only made their relationship public earlier this year in February.
This isn’t the first time Richardson has attracted controversy off the track. In 2023, she was removed from an American Airlines flight following a verbal dispute with a flight attendant, during which she alleged she was being unfairly targeted.
As of press time, Richardson has not released an official statement regarding the latest incident.
