Official Site of the 49ers · Dec 7, 2024
Small Celebrations for Big Successes
Joyasia Smith's hunger for success knows no bounds.
Sha’Carri Richardson is hard to miss but Joyasia Smith almost did.
A walk along the U.S. Olympic Trials track in Eugene, Oregon put the two right next to each other, even if neither knew it. As Richardson walked past, and later ran ahead of Smith, it all clicked in the latter’s head.
Look how close I am to some of the greatest sprinters in the world.
Smith fights a daily battle with humility and confidence. She’s never doubted her abilities, but being brash isn’t her style. Even when she set the 200-meter program record last year with a 22.55, her smile was internal. There was no big celebration, just a new benchmark to leave behind.