Christian Coleman’s 2025 season hasn’t exactly gone to plan. The former world champ is still searching for his first individual win of the year. Aside from a solid showing in the men’s 4x100m relay at the Tom Jones Memorial back in April, he hasn’t quite looked like his usual dominant self. Things didn’t improve much at the Prefontaine Classic on July 5. Coleman lined up in the men’s 100m with a shot at joining Justin Gatlin as a three-time winner of the event—but instead, he finished seventh with a time of 10.06 seconds. That performance sparked a wave of doubts across the track and field world, with many wondering if he’s ready for the upcoming US Nationals. But through all the noise, there’s one person who’s still in his corner: his girlfriend, Sha’Carri Richardson. The sprint queen is standing by her man, showing full support despite the tough stretch.
On June 12, USA Today dropped an interview with Sha’Carri Richardson, where she finally spoke up about all the chatter around Christian Coleman’s recent form. When asked, “Who is a fellow athlete that deserves more recognition?” Sha’Carri didn’t even hesitate—she went straight to her man. “I would say Christian Coleman…,” she said, before backing it up with, “And I would say Christian Coleman, due to the fact that he has shown up and done things that other male U.S. track and field athletes have not been able to do in such a long time….” Of course, beyond being a power couple, Sha’Carri and Coleman also train side by side at Dennis Mitchell’s Star Athletics in Florida. They’ve been grinding together there for over a year now, so she’s seen firsthand how much effort he’s been putting in. Still, the big question remains—can Coach Mitchell help Coleman rediscover the magic and bring him back to his best at 29? Well, someone hopes for that.
The name backing Dennis Mitchell? None other than Justin Gatlin. On a recent episode of his Ready Set Go podcast, Gatlin had some real talk about Coach Mitchell—and he didn’t hold back. While co-host Rodney Green broke down Mitchell’s coaching resume, Gatlin didn’t disagree for a second. In fact, he laid it out plain: “It’s hard betting against Dennis, man, because he’s such a strategist and he’s going to look at his different athletes and he realizes if there’s a weak link, he has to strengthen that link.” Right now, that “weak link” might be Christian Coleman. He even came up short at the Star Athletics Sprint Series in the men’s 100m—not the result anyone expected. But according to Gatlin, Mitchell’s not panicking. Instead, he’s playing the long game. Gatlin’s basically saying, Don’t sleep on Dennis Mitchell. He’s seen what the coach can do up close, and if anyone can get Coleman back to form, it’s him. How so?
Image Credits: IMAGO
On the podcast, Justin Gatlin made it crystal clear—Dennis Mitchell isn’t sweating over Diamond League meets or random one-off races. “Those are pride runs for him,” Gatlin said. So what does matter to the veteran coach? The big stage. The high-stakes moments. According to Gatlin, that’s where Mitchell’s focus really kicks in. “He [Dennis Mitchell] wants you to go out there and tweak work on how you’re going to operate in those high-pressure situations,” Gatlin explained. Why? Because that’s where it all comes together. Competing under pressure builds an athlete’s mindset—and when it really counts, they’re ready. “You’ll be ready to run that race the way you’re supposed to run that race,” Gatlin claimed. And if you want proof Mitchell’s approach works, just look at Melissa Jefferson-Wooden. She’s a textbook example of how this strategy pays off when the lights are brightest.
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden is living proof that Dennis Mitchell’s strategy works—if it’s timed right. Sure, last year at the Paris Olympics, Melissa came up short in the women’s 100m final. But fast forward to this season? She’s been on fire. She’s showing serious dominance in both the 100m and 200m. At the Grand Slam Track, she was in prime position to claim the overall season crown. And at the Prefontaine Classic? She smoked Olympic champ Julien Alfred, clocking a blazing 10.75.
Oh—and let’s not forget—Melissa currently holds the world lead in the women’s 100m with a 10.73. She hasn’t lost a single 100m race this season. In the 200m, she made a statement too—beating Gabby Thomas, the reigning Olympic champion, at the Philly leg of Grand Slam Track. And according to Justin Gatlin, all this isn’t just talent—it’s the result of Mitchell’s well-timed plan. The guy knows when to dial things in and peak at the right moment. So now, all eyes are on Christian Coleman. The big question: can he flip the script at the upcoming US Nationals? It’s the kind of high-pressure space Mitchell lives for. Coleman’s got the stage—now it’s about delivering.
But while we wait to see if Coleman bounces back, it’s worth noting—Sha’Carri Richardson isn’t exactly in top form herself right now. She’s dealing with her own struggles on the track.
Sha’Carri Richardson has her hiccups as well
Sha’Carri Richardson returned to the track at the 2025 Prefontaine Classic, lining up in the women’s 100m against two very familiar faces—Julien Alfred and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, her fellow podium finishers frirfaom the Paris Olympics. But this time, things didn’t go as planned.
Unlike the magic SCR unleashed in Paris, Sha’Carri couldn’t find that same fire in Eugene. She finished ninth—dead last in the race. A tough pill to swallow, no doubt. But what stood out wasn’t just the result—it was her honesty. Before the race even began, Sha’Carri had opened up about battling injuries for most of the season. That kind of transparency isn’t always easy for athletes at her level, but she didn’t shy away. And for that, Richardson earned praise from analysts across the track and field world.
Later, Sha’Carri Richardson took to social media and shared a powerful post-race clip. No excuses. No dramatics. Just pure humility. “I’ve got to get back to work. … I’ll continue to grow. This is just part of the process,” she said. She owned the moment, called it what it was, and made it clear—this is just a chapter, not the whole story. Sha’Carri also thanked her fans for sticking by her, promising she’s learning from every step on the track. Resilient, real, and still fighting—Sha’Carri’s season might not be perfect, but her mindset is built for the long run.
The post Sha’Carri Richardson’s Coach Praised for Ruthless Strategy Despite Christian Coleman Questions Heating Up appeared first on EssentiallySports.