Sanya Richards: Smiling through the finish at Worlds

BERLIN  -  Sanya Richards has one of the most radiant smiles in track and field, but she hid it at the start of the World Championships 400-meter final.

Richards even tried to avoid gazing directly into the camera lens during her introduction. She looked as if she was already running the race in her head.

"I know sometimes at majors I get a little carried away," Richards said. "You feel fresh, so you go out fast ... and then you pay for it coming home. Even though I was having fun and I was relaxed, I wanted to make sure I didn't make any mistakes because I was just too free."

Richards wanted to get rid of the rap that she was a favorite who couldn't deliver in the big races. Expected to win the gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Richards held the lead until her hamstring seized up and cost her the title. She faded to third place, and then gamely had to accompany the gold and silver medalists on a victory lap she didn't feel like sharing.

This time, on the blue track at Berlin's iconic Olympic Stadium, the home of the 1936 Olympic Games were held and a place where she'd enjoyed success in smaller meets, Richards went out strong and dominated the final turn.

When she was about five meters from victory, that smile finally burst upon Richards' face. 

"I was just so excited,'' Richards said. "I think I glanced back for a second to make sure I had it for sure. To know I crossed in first really just sent chills through my whole body."

Richards actually jumped across the finish line, thrusting her arms skyward.

Her time was 49.00 seconds, the fastest in the world this year. Richards, who has run under 50 seconds more than any other female runner in history, defeated Shericka Williams of Jamaica, the Olympic silver medalist (49.32 seconds), and Antonina Krivoshapka of Russia (49.71).

Richards then celebrated by wrapping herself in the American flag and performing the "Dallas Boogie."

"It's a Texas dance," said the 24-year-old who lives in Austin, Texas. "I told my sister and my cousin, 'If I win, I'm going to hit the 'Dallas Boogie.' I did it a bunch of times for the press, so I'm sure everybody will be doing the 'Dallas Boogie' across the world."

Well, maybe not in England.

Christine Ohuruogu, the defending world and Olympic champion who has been hampered by a hamstring injury this season, was fifth in 50.21 seconds.

"I think the pressure was more for her to win the title than it was for me to lose it," Ohuruogu said.

The pressure was so great on Richards that it made her physically ill. She suffers from Behcet's Syndrome, an inflammation of the blood vessels that causes painful lesions in her mouth and all over her body. It is rarely found in the United States, but its victims are usually in their 20s and 30s. Flare-ups are caused by stress, and what could be more stressful than trying to outrun your demons on one of the world's largest stages?

"I know how to handle it now and I didn't let it get in my way," said Richards, who treats the disease with medication. "I was able to run my season's best when it counted."

She ran with the bullet charm her mother had given her when she was in the seventh grade.

"She has never stopped wearing it," said Sharon Richards. "It's broken and she has a safety pin holding it together."

Sharon Richards spotted the bullet while shopping in Manhattan when Sanya was in the fifth grade, before the family moved from Jamaica to South Florida.

"I kept it for about two years before I gave it to her, " she said. "Then I said to her, 'You're faster than a speeding bullet.' She's kept it close to her heart."

And was Sanya faster than a speeding bullet in Berlin? "Absolutely!" said Sharon Richards. "I thought, 'Finally.' Nothing else. 'Finally.' And I had a good cry."

These were tears of joy, not frustration. Beginning in 2002, when Richards was favored to win the world junior title and placed second, she has been chased by disappointment.

"We all cried with her," said her father, Archie.  "We were lucky, too, in that she wouldn't hold down her head for long. She would refocus and want to prove to the world that she is the best."

In 2006, Richards set the American record of 48.70 seconds, breaking Valerie Brisco's 22-year-old mark, and was named the IAAF's athlete of the year. She began talking of a 200-400 double for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

But her Behcet's flared up at the 2007 World Championships trials. After 18 consecutive victories in the 400, Richards was fourth and didn't qualify for the U.S. team in that event. She did make the team in the 200, but placed fifth in Osaka, Japan, while teammate Allyson Felix won her second world title.

Then came Beijing. Richards anchored the U.S. relay team to gold in the 4 x 400 relay, overtaking Russia in a thrilling run down the stretch, but it wasn't the individual Olympic gold medal she craved.

She admitted her problem was more mental than physical.

"It's been a burden on my mind for a long time," Richards said. "I think I finally shed that and I know what I need to do next time at a major championship."

During the post-race news conference, Richards cheerfully fielded questions. When the moderator said there was time for only one more, Richards insisted that the question go to Williams or Krivoshapka.

"I know how it feels to be second or third and not get any questions," she said. "It's not a cool feeling."

The question went to Williams. "Was she happy for Richards?"

"I'm very, very happy for her," she replied.

Richards' next goal is the Golden League's million-dollar jackpot, which is awarded to any athlete who can win his or her event in six of six meets this season. She has won the first three races in the series and needs to win the final three to win at least a share of the prize money. Kerron Stewart (Jamaica, 100 meters), Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia, 5,000 meters) and Yelena Isinbayeva (Russia, pole vault) are also in the hunt.

"It's the last year (before the Golden League becomes the Diamond League)," Richards said, "so it'd be nice to win it. After that, I can't wait to get to New York and start planning for actually the biggest day of my life."

That would be her wedding to New York Giants cornerback Aaron Ross, whom she met while both were at the University of Texas.

Ross proposed to Richards on national television on Dec. 17, 2007, before one of his games. He wasn't able to come to Berlin because he was at training camp, but Richards wears the diamond engagement ring he gave her that's so large you'd think it would slow her down.

Like all of the American athletes, Richards also wears a small "JO" patch on her uniform in commemoration of Jesse Owens's four gold medals in Berlin at the 1936 Olympic Games. She and her mother visited Owens's room at the Olympic Village three or four years ago.

"It was a really nice tribute there, and you kind of feel his spirit," Richards said. "I never had a chance to talk to him, but I can imagine when he was here how he had to stay focused against all the odds and pull out four gold medals. That's an amazing accomplishment."

She hopes her own accomplishment is just a start. 

"When you look at the best 400-meter runners, including Michael Johnson (the American and world record holder) and Marita Koch (of East Germany), they all ran great at 31, 32, so hopefully I'll have six or seven more years of great running," Richards said.

"I have a great coach (Clyde Hart, who also coaches Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Wariner). He knows what to do to keep you sharp and fresh, so I really hope for the next Olympics I can be on top. Maybe even in 2016, but right now I'm just focused on being the world champion today."

It was about time.