Sha’Carri Richardson, the Olympic sprinter who took silver in the 100m and gold in the 4×100 relay at the 2024 Paris Games, is now making headlines for reasons far from the track.
On Sunday, July 27, Richardson was arrested and charged with fourth-degree domestic violence assault after an incident involving her boyfriend, fellow sprinter Christian Coleman, at the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport.
According to a police report cited by The New York Times, the pair had just cleared TSA when a verbal disagreement turned physical.
A responding officer said Richardson pushed her boyfriend, Coleman, several times, causing him to stumble into a nearby column. Security footage showed her trying to block his path and pulling on his backpack as he attempted to walk away. At one point, she also appeared to throw an item—believed to be a pair of headphones—at him.
Coleman, 29, told officers he didn’t want to be listed as a victim and declined to move forward with the investigation. Richardson, 25, was taken into custody and booked at the South Correctional Entity in Des Moines, Washington, on July 27. She was released the next morning.
USA Track and Field later issued a brief statement saying it was “aware of the reports and is not commenting on this matter.”
Whether the confrontation brought their relationship to an end is still unknown. But with everything that’s happened, public interest in their status has only grown.
Here’s what we know about their relationship timeline so far.
Are Sha’Carri Richardson and Her Boyfriend Coleman Broken Up?
Neither Richardson nor her beau, Coleman, has confirmed a breakup. While the altercation at the airport sparked headlines and raised questions about the state of their relationship, there has been no official word from either side.
Interestingly, despite the incident, both the duo competed shortly after at the USATF Outdoor Championships. They raced in the preliminary rounds on Thursday, July 31, and each advanced to the final that same day. On Friday, August 1, Richardson placed second in her heat in the 100 meters with a time of 11.07, earning her spot in the semifinals.
When Did They Begin Dating?
Dating rumors between Richardson and Coleman first surfaced in spring 2023, when the two were seen together at a track meet in Jamaica. By the time Richardson made headlines at the Paris Olympics with her silver in the 100m and gold in the 4×100 relay, fans had already begun piecing things together.
The couple officially confirmed their relationship during Super Bowl weekend in February 2025, ending nearly two years of quiet speculation. Since then, they haven’t shied away from sharing intimate, affectionate moments online.
Richardson celebrated her bf Coleman’s 29th birthday on March 6 with a sweet message and a set of cozy, never-before-seen pictures on Instagram. “Happy birthday to my person. Thank you for being you,” she wrote on one of the snaps.
A few weeks earlier, they celebrated Valentine’s Day in Florida by attending a Katt Williams show, followed by a dinner date. At the event, the comedian gave Richardson a special shoutout—an interaction Coleman proudly captured and shared online, joking that his Valentine had “taken over the night.”
Off the track, the two seemed inseparable—but the incident at the Seattle airport has cast uncertainty over where things currently stand.
