View source for Sanya Richards-Ross

{{Short description|American sprinter (born 1985)}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Sanya Richards-Ross
| image = SanyaRichardsRossRelayLondon2012.jpg
| caption = Richards-Ross at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1985|2|26}}
| birth_place = [[Kingston, Jamaica]]
| height = {{convert|5|ft|8|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|137|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
| country = {{USA}}
| sport = [[Track and field]]
| event = [[400 metres|400 m]]
| pb = {{ubl
|'''[[100 metres|100&nbsp;m]]''': 10.97 ([[Shanghai]] 2007)
|'''[[200 metres|200&nbsp;m]]''': 22.09 ([[New York City|New York]] 2009)
|'''[[400 metres|400&nbsp;m]]''': 48.70 ([[Athens]] 2006)
|''Indoors''
|'''[[200 metres|200&nbsp;m]]''': 22.49 ([[Fayetteville, Arkansas|Fayetteville]] 2004)
|'''[[400 metres|400&nbsp;m]]''': 50.71 ([[Albuquerque, New Mexico|Albuquerque]] 2012)
}}
| show-medals = yes
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Women's [[Sport of athletics|athletics]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}
{{MedalCount
|[[Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]|4|0|1
|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]|5|2|0
|[[IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics|World Indoor Championships]]|1|1|0
|'''Total'''|'''10'''|'''3'''|'''1'''
}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Athens]]|[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 m relay]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing]]|[[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 m relay]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 London]]|[[Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metres|400 m]]}}
{{MedalGold|2012 London|[[Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 m relay]]}}
{{MedalBronze|2008 Beijing|[[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metres|400 m]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[IAAF World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics|2003 Paris]]|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 m relay]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics|2007 Osaka]]|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 m relay]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics|2009 Berlin]]|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres|400 m]]}}
{{MedalGold|2009 Berlin|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 m relay]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2011 World Championships in Athletics|2011 Daegu]]|[[2011 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 m relay]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2005 World Championships in Athletics|2005 Helsinki]]|[[2005 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres|400 m]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2015 World Championships in Athletics|2015 Beijing]]|[[2015 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 m relay]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|World Indoor Championships}}
{{MedalGold|[[2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships|2012 Istanbul]]|[[2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres|400 m]]}}
{{MedalSilver|2012 Istanbul|[[2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 m relay]]|4 × 400 m relay}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[IAAF World Relays|World Relays]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2014 IAAF World Relays|2014 Nassau]]|[[2014 IAAF World Relays – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 m relay]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2015 IAAF World Relays|2015 Nassau]]|[[2015 IAAF World Relays – Women's distance medley relay|Distance medley relay]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|2015 Nassau|[[2015 IAAF World Relays – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 m relay]]}}
}}

'''Sanya Richards-Ross''' {{postnominals|'''OLY'''}} ([[née]] '''Richards'''; born February 26, 1985<ref>{{cite web |title=Sanya Richards-Ross |url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/sanya-richards-ross-14319838 |website=worldathletics.org |publisher=World athletics federation}}</ref>) is a retired American [[Track and field athletics|track and field]] athlete who competed internationally for the United States in the [[400 metres|400-meter sprint]]. Her notable accolades in this event include being the [[Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metres|2012]] Olympic champion, [[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres|2009]] world champion, [[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metres|2008]] Olympic bronze medalist, and [[2005 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres|2005]] world silver medalist. With her victory in 2012, she became the second American woman to win the 400 meters at the [[Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] and the first American woman to earn multiple global 400-meter titles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Long ride 'worth the wait' as Richards-Ross claims elusive gold |url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/olympic-games/news/long-ride-worth-the-wait-as-richards-ross-cla |website=World Athletics |access-date=10 September 2021 |archive-date=10 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910210655/https://worldathletics.org/competitions/olympic-games/news/long-ride-worth-the-wait-as-richards-ross-cla |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Felix takes on Richards-Ross over 400m in Eugene – IAAF Diamond League |url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/news/diamond-league-eugene-2016-400m-felix-richard |website=World Athletics |access-date=10 September 2021}}</ref> At this distance, Richards-Ross is also a six-time U.S. national champion ([[2003 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|2003]], [[2005 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|2005]], [[2006 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|2006]], [[2008 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|2008]], [[2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|2009]], and [[2012 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|2012]]).

A formidable competitor throughout her career, Richards-Ross ranked number one in the world from 2005 to 2009 and again in 2012 in the 400 meters.<ref>{{cite web |title=Women's World Rankings by Event |url=https://trackandfieldnews.com/womens-world-rankings-by-event/ |website=Track & Field News |access-date=10 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Women's World 400 Rankings by Athlete |url=https://trackandfieldnews.com/womens-world-400-rankings-by-athlete/ |website=Track & Field News |access-date=10 September 2021}}</ref> She set the then American 400-meter record of 48.70 seconds in 2006 and was named the [[International Association of Athletics Federations|IAAF]] 2006 [[World Athlete of the Year|Female World Athlete of the Year]], an honor she received again in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fab five: multiple winners of the World Athlete of the Year award |url=https://worldathletics.org/news/series/multiple-winners-of-the-world-athlete-of-the |website=World Athletics |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> Richards-Ross also holds the record for the most sub-50 second sprints in the history of the event, with a career total of 49 times.<ref>{{cite web |title=Felix takes on Richards-Ross over 400m in Eugene – IAAF Diamond League |url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/news/diamond-league-eugene-2016-400m-felix-richard |website=World Athletics |access-date=10 September 2021}}</ref> In addition to her individual achievements, she won three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the [[4 × 400 meters relay]] at the [[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|2004]], [[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|2008]], and [[Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|2012]] Summer Olympics, as well as five total relay medals from multiple [[World Athletics Championships]].

Following an injury at the [[2016 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|2016 U.S. Olympic trials]], Richards-Ross retired from the sport and subsequently joined the [[NBC]] broadcasting team as a track and field analyst.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Acosta |first1=Amelia |title=You cannot separate your human experience from your sporting success: A conversation with Sanya Richards-Ross |url=https://onherturf.nbcsports.com/2021/04/21/sanya-richards-ross-track-field-olympic-medalist-nbc-analyst/ |website=NBC Sports |date=21 April 2021 |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> She published her memoir ''Chasing Grace: What the Quarter Mile has Taught Me about God and Life'' in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Watts |first1=Jenisha |title=Olympic champion Sanya Richards-Ross on her new memoir 'Chasing Grace' |url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/culture/story/_/id/19546596/sanya-richards-ross-new-memoir-chasing-grace |website=ESPN |date=5 June 2017 |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref>

In October 2021, [[Bravo (American TV network)|Bravo]] announced that Richards-Ross was joining the [[The Real Housewives of Atlanta (season 14)|fourteenth season]] of ''[[The Real Housewives of Atlanta]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 14 Cast Announced|url=https://www.bravotv.com/the-daily-dish/rhoa-season-14-cast-announced-after-porsha-williams-cynthia-bailey-exits|access-date=26 October 2021|website=Bravo TV Official Site|date=25 October 2021}}</ref>

==Early life==
Richards-Ross was born on February 26, 1985, in [[Kingston, Jamaica]] to Archie and Sharon Richards. She began running at the age of seven and represented her school Vaz Prep in annual youth championships. When she was twelve years old, her family immigrated to [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]], so that she could attend an American high school, increasing her chances of obtaining an athletic scholarship to an American university.<ref>{{cite book |last=Richards-Ross|first=Sanya|date=2017|title=Chasing Grace: What the Quarter Mile has Taught Me about God and Life|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|pages=41}}</ref> She later became a naturalized citizen of the United States.<ref>{{cite news |title=45 Naturalized Americans Celebrated in Carnegie Corporation 4th of July Public Service Ad |url=https://www.carnegie.org/news/articles/45-naturalized-americans-celebrated-in-carnegie-corporation-4th-of-july-public-service-ad/ |access-date=22 September 2025 |publisher=[[Carnegie Corporation of New York]] |date=July 3, 2012}}</ref>

At [[St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)|St. Thomas Aquinas High School]] in Fort Lauderdale, she was a nine-time individual Florida high school state champion with four 100-meter titles, three 200-meter titles, one 400-meter title and one long jump title.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hall of Fame |url=https://fhsaa.com/hof.aspx?hof=45 |website=Florida High School Athletics Association |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Underwood |first1=Steve |title=Learning experience propels Richards to greatness |url=https://www.runnerspace.com/news.php?news_id=139971 |website=RunnerSpace |access-date=8 September 2021}}</ref> On June 20, 2002, Richards ran the 400m in 50.69 seconds at the U.S. Junior Championships at Stanford University, the fastest high school time ever recorded in that event and still standing in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title= Sanya Richards pleases Jamaican crowd |url= https://worldathletics.org/news/news/sanya-richards-pleases-jamaican-crowd |website= WorldAthletics |date=17 July 2002 |access-date= 24 June 2025}}</ref>

She graduated from Aquinas in 2002 with a cumulative 4.0 GPA and was named the 2002 [[Gatorade Player of the Year awards#Track and Field|Gatorade National High School Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year]] and the USA Track and Field Youth Athlete of the Year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Life 101 ... Personally Speaking: Sanya Richards-Ross |url=https://www.nova.edu/life101/guest-speakers/sanya-richards-ross.html#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20her%20selection,Prep%20Athlete%20of%20the%20Year |website=Nova Southeastern Florida University |access-date=10 August 2021 |archive-date=21 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121063635/https://www.nova.edu/life101/guest-speakers/sanya-richards-ross.html#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20her%20selection,Prep%20Athlete%20of%20the%20Year |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Biography: Sanya Richards-Ross |url=https://olympics.com/en/athletes/sanya-richards-ross |website=Olympics |access-date=7 August 2021}}</ref> Richards-Ross attended the [[University of Texas, Austin]] from 2002 to 2005, majoring in business and starring on the women's track and field team.<ref>{{cite web |title=Olympian and UT Ex Sanya Richards-Ross will be Spring Commencement Speaker |url=https://news.utexas.edu/2013/02/20/olympian-and-ut-ex-sanya-richards-ross-will-be-spring-commencement-speaker/ |website=The University of Texas at Austin News |date=20 February 2013 |access-date=10 August 2021}}</ref>

==Career==
===2003–2005===
Representing the [[Texas Longhorns|University of Texas]] in 2003, Richards-Ross became the first freshman to win the [[NCAA]] national championship in the 400 meters and the 4 × 400 meters relay. Her victory in 400 meters set the then American U20 record of 50.58 seconds.<ref>{{cite web |title=Twice As Nice For Texas' Richards In 2003 |url=http://www.ustfccca.org/ncaa-100/sanya-richards-texas-400-meters-4x400-relay-2003-ncaa-championships |website=U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association |access-date=7 August 2021}}</ref> Later that June, at eighteen years old, the freshman Longhorn claimed her first senior national title by winning the 400 meters in 51.01 seconds at the [[2003 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|2003 U.S. national championships]] and qualified for the [[2003 World Championships in Athletics|2003 Paris World Championships]]. In Paris, she finished fourth in her [[2003 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres|400 meters]] semi-final and did not move on to the final. However, Richards-Ross still came home with a gold medal in the [[2003 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 meters relay]] after anchoring Team USA to a victory.

Richards-Ross qualified for her first Olympic team by running 49.89 seconds to place second in the 400 meters at the [[2004 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|2004 U.S. Olympic trials]]. In the 2004 Olympic [[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metres|400 meters final]], Richards-Ross finished sixth with a time of 50.19 seconds, behind her two American compatriots [[DeeDee Trotter]] and [[Monique Hennagan]], who both missed the podium as well. The American women sought redemption from their disappointing run by winning gold in the [[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 meters relay]], days later.<ref>{{Cite news | url = http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/athens/track/2004-08-28-womens-roundup_x.htm | title = Relay win is redemption for USA women | newspaper = [[USA Today]] | date = August 28, 2004 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040829002756/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/athens/track/2004-08-28-womens-roundup_x.htm | archive-date = August 29, 2004 | url-status = dead}}</ref> After leaving Athens, Richards-Ross forwent her college eligibility at Texas, competing as a [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]]-sponsored athlete and training under the then head track and field coach of [[Baylor University]], [[Clyde Hart]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Richards-Ross|first=Sanya|date=2017|title=Chasing Grace: What the Quarter Mile has Taught Me about God and Life|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|pages=66 }}</ref>

At the [[2005 World Championships in Athletics|2005 Helsinki World Championships]], 20-year-old Richards-Ross failed to maintain the lead coming off the second curve in the [[2005 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres|400 meters final]] and was passed by the 2004 Olympic champion [[Tonique Williams-Darling]] of the [[Bahamas]], who won with a season's best of 49.55 seconds. Richards-Ross attributed the difficult loss to her inexperience as a young professional athlete, fixating on beating her main competitor before the final 100 meters instead of trusting her established race strategy.<ref>{{cite book |last=Richards-Ross|first=Sanya|date=2017|title=Chasing Grace: What the Quarter Mile has Taught Me about God and Life|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|pages=76 }}</ref> Reverting to her predetermined race plan, she dipped under 49 seconds for the first time with a personal best of 48.92 seconds, the fastest time in the world that year, in Zürich, a race that also featured the newly crowned world champion [[Tonique Williams-Darling|Williams-Darling]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Richards becomes youngest ever under 49 seconds – TDK Golden League, Zürich |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/richards-becomes-youngest-ever-under-49-secon |website=World Athletics |access-date=10 August 2021}}</ref>

===2006–2008===
Pursuit of the American 400 meters record, set at 48.83 seconds by [[Valerie Brisco-Hooks]], became Richards-Ross' goal of the 2006 season.<ref>{{cite book |last=Richards-Ross|first=Sanya|date=2017|title=Chasing Grace: What the Quarter Mile has Taught Me about God and Life|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|pages=88–92 }}</ref> Leading into the World Cup race in Athens, the American woman was on a dominant win-streak and held the world-leading time of 49.05 seconds. She finished the World Cup race in 48.70 seconds, replacing Brisco-Hooks as the new American record holder in the 400 meters.<ref>{{cite web |title=2006 - End of Year Reviews - SPRINTS |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/2006-end-of-year-reviews-sprints |website=World Athletics |access-date=10 August 2021}}</ref> At the time, this personal best ranked her as the [[400 metres#All-time top 25 women|seventh-fastest]] woman ever at the distance. Richards-Ross and her training partner [[Jeremy Wariner]] were awarded the 2006 [[Jesse Owens Award]] by [[USA Track and Field]] after both were undefeated for the entire season and each won their $250,000 portion of the IAAF Golden League.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jesse Owens Awards go to Richards and Wariner |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/jesse-owens-awards-go-to-richards-and-wariner |website=World Athletics |access-date=10 August 2021}}</ref> Athletes who win all six Golden League meets in an event claim a share of the $1 million jackpot.<ref>{{cite web |title=IAAF Golden League Jackpot – Three remain in hunt for $1 Million |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/iaaf-golden-league-jackpot-three-remain-in |website=World Athletics |access-date=10 August 2021}}</ref>[[File:Osaka07 D9A W4-400M USA celebrating.jpg|thumb|right|325px|Richards-Ross with the U.S. relay team at the [[2007 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|2007 Osaka World Championships]]]]

For the 2007 season, Richards-Ross decided to expand her résumé, racing more 200-meter sprints and testing her ability to possibly pursue the rare 200–400 meters double Olympic victory in Beijing the following year.<ref>{{cite book |last=Richards-Ross|first=Sanya|date=2017|title=Chasing Grace: What the Quarter Mile has Taught Me about God and Life|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|pages=111}}</ref> Only a handful of athletes have ever achieved such a feat, including [[Michael Johnson (sprinter)|Michael Johnson]], her coach Clyde Hart's world-record-setting pupil. Things strayed from her plan, as she finished fourth in the 400 meters event at the [[2007 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|2007 U.S. national championships]], only qualifying for the [[2007 World Championships in Athletics|2007 Osaka World Championships]] by placing second in the 200 meters, behind reigning 200 meters world champion [[Allyson Felix]]. In Osaka, Richards-Ross ran 22.70 seconds to finish fifth, as teammate Felix successfully defended her title from two years prior.<ref>{{cite web |title=Osaka 2007 - Women's 200m: Felix blasts back to London's past for a glimpse of the future |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/osaka-2007-womens-200m-felix-blasts-back-to-1 |website=World Athletics |access-date=10 August 2021}}</ref> Both American women reunited for the women's [[2007 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 meters relay]], helping Team USA win gold, ahead of the Jamaican team and the British team, which featured the new 400 meters world champion [[Christine Ohuruogu]] and 400 meters silver medalist [[Nicola Sanders]]. Despite failing to qualify in her signature event at the national championships and leaving Osaka with only a spectator's memory of the individual race, the 23-year-old American woman still finished the year undefeated in the six Golden League 400-meter races and with the number one world ranking.<ref>{{cite web |title=2007 - End of Year Reviews - SPRINTS |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/2007-end-of-year-reviews-sprints |website=World Athletics |access-date=10 August 2021}}</ref> Reflecting on her season, she admitted that losing focus on the quarter-mile race was the reason for her defeat, after constantly shifting mindsets and strategies to race the 100, 200, and 400 meters throughout the season.<ref>{{cite book |last=Richards-Ross|first=Sanya|date=2017|title=Chasing Grace: What the Quarter Mile has Taught Me about God and Life|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|pages=112 }}</ref>

Coming into 2008, despite being among the most prolific sub-50 second 400-meter sprinters of the decade, Richards-Ross had yet to win any individual world or Olympic title. Up until then, she had run a total of 27 races below the 50-second barrier.<ref>{{cite web |title=2007 - End of Year Reviews - SPRINTS |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/2007-end-of-year-reviews-sprints |website=World Athletics |access-date=10 August 2021}}</ref> After winning the [[2008 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|2008 U.S. Olympic trials]], Richards-Ross was favored to win gold at the [[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metres|2008 Beijing Olympics]]. However, in Beijing, Richards-Ross faltered, coming off the curve with a significant lead and having nothing left to come home. She held on for the bronze medal as [[Christine Ohuruogu]] of Great Britain and [[Shericka Williams]] of Jamaica surged ahead.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Linden |first1=Julian |title=Ohuruogu wins women's 400m gold |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-olympics-athletics-women-400/ohuruogu-wins-womens-400m-gold-idUKPEK3486320080819 |website=Reuters |date=19 August 2008 |access-date=15 August 2021}}</ref> Richards-Ross later avenged her individual loss by making up a ten-meter deficit in the women's [[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 meters relay]] and catching the Russian sprinter on the anchor leg right before the finish line, allowing the United States to win by a 0.28-second margin.

Throughout her career, Richards-Ross answered questions regarding the 2008 Olympic 400 meters race with self-described half-truths, attributing her loss to a sudden right hamstring injury, lack of sleep, or fate.<ref>{{cite book |last=Richards-Ross|first=Sanya|date=2017|title=Chasing Grace: What the Quarter Mile has Taught Me about God and Life|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|pages=129 }}</ref> In her 2017 memoir ''Chasing Grace: What the Quarter Mile Taught Me about God and Life'', she finally revealed the underlying reason for her disappointing loss at the 2008 Olympics; one month before the games, Richards-Ross discovered that she was pregnant and decided to terminate the pregnancy the day before leaving for Beijing.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Levy |first1=Sara Gaynes |title=Track Star Sanya Richards-Ross Opens Up About Her Abortion: 'I Made a Decision That Broke Me' |url=https://www.glamour.com/story/sanya-richards-ross-opens-up-about-abortion |website=Glamour |date=8 June 2017 |access-date=15 August 2021}}</ref> A devout Christian woman and a world-class athlete at the prime of her career, she endured much physical and emotional turmoil following her difficult decision, even into the 2008 Olympics, as explicated in the book: "I made a decision that broke me, and one from which I would not immediately heal from. Abortion would now forever be a part of my life. A scarlet letter I never thought I'd wear."<ref>{{cite book |last=Richards-Ross|first=Sanya|date=2017|title=Chasing Grace: What the Quarter Mile has Taught Me about God and Life|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|pages=135}}</ref>

===2009–2011===
With the echoes of her Beijing loss still lingering into 2009, Richards-Ross began working with a sports psychologist, at the urging of coach Clyde Hart, to overcome her bouts of anxiety and emotional anguish.<ref>{{cite book |last=Richards-Ross|first=Sanya|date=2017|title=Chasing Grace: What the Quarter Mile has Taught Me about God and Life|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|pages=152 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Acosta |first1=Amelia |title=You cannot separate your human experience from your sporting success: A conversation with Sanya Richards-Ross |url=https://onherturf.nbcsports.com/2021/04/21/sanya-richards-ross-track-field-olympic-medalist-nbc-analyst/ |website=NBC Sports |date=21 April 2021 |access-date=22 August 2021}}</ref> Her efforts on the track coupled with her mental preparation made a difference as the 2009 season became her most successful to date. Richards-Ross won the 400 meters [[2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|U.S. national title]] in 50.05 seconds, 0.74 seconds over second-place finisher [[Debbie Dunn]], and qualified for the [[2009 World Championships in Athletics|2009 Berlin World Championships]]. In Berlin, she won her first global 400 meters title by dominating the [[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres|400 meters final]] from start to finish, winning in 49.00 seconds and proving to her critics that she could perform on the sport's biggest stages. The newly crowned world champion then anchored Team USA to a gold medal in the women's [[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 meters relay]]. The winning time of 3.17.83 minutes was the sixth-fastest time in history, up until then, with Richards-Ross unofficially splitting 48.43 seconds on her anchor leg.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Larsson |first1=Peter |title=All-time Women's best 4 × 400 m relay |url=http://www.alltime-athletics.com/w4x400ok.htm |website=Track and Field All-time Performances |access-date=22 August 2021}}</ref> [[File:Sanya Richards with US flag Berlin 2009.JPG|thumb|right|325px|Richards-Ross celebrating her victory at the [[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres|2009 Berlin World Championships]]]]

Upon leaving Berlin, Richards-Ross returned to the track to continue her 2009 IAAF Golden League win streak. In addition to winning the Berlin meet in 49.57 seconds, Oslo in 49.23 seconds, Rome in 49.46 seconds, and Paris in 49.34 seconds, all before the world championships, she claimed victory again in the last two Golden League meets in Zürich and Brussels, with times of 48.94 seconds and 48.83 seconds, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bekele, Isinbayeva and Richards' road to the Jackpot – ÅF Golden League |url=https://worldathletics.org/news/news/bekele-isinbayeva-and-richards-road-to-the-ja |website=World Athletics |access-date=22 August 2021}}</ref> This was her third time sweeping the IAAF Golden League meets, a feat she accomplished in 2006 and 2007 as well, allowing her to once again earn a share of the $1 million jackpot.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bekele, Isinbayeva and Richards' road to the Jackpot – ÅF Golden League |url=https://worldathletics.org/news/news/bekele-isinbayeva-and-richards-road-to-the-ja |website=World Athletics |access-date=22 August 2021}}</ref> After a 49.95-second win in the 400 meters IAAF World Athletics Final meet, she broke [[Marita Koch]]'s record for the most career sub-50 second performances, surpassing Koch's total of 35 with her own total of 41.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gay powers back with 9.77 in Rome – REPORT – ÅF Golden League |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/news/report/gay-powers-back-with-977-in-rome-report-a |website=World Athletics |access-date=22 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2009 Athletes of the Year Finalists - Spotlight on Female Candidates |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/news/news/2009-athletes-of-the-year-finalists-spotlig-1 |website=World Athletics |access-date=22 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Profile: Sanya Richards-Ross |url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/sanya-richards-ross-14319838 |website=World Athletics |access-date=22 August 2021}}</ref> Her only defeat this season, in any event, was to the now three-time defending 200-meter world champion [[Allyson Felix]] at the IAAF World Athletics Final in the 200 meters, with the victor discerned via photo finish and Richards-Ross declared second in an identical time of 22.29 seconds.<ref>{{cite web |title=Americans Impress At World Athletics Final |url=https://www.podiumrunner.com/events/americans-impress-at-world-athletics-final/ |website=PodiumRunner |date=14 September 2009 |access-date=22 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Felix ties with Richards in Finals – from Universal Sports |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gH5SzDwwl8 |website=YouTube | date=12 September 2009 |publisher=SportsNetwork}}</ref> To cap off the successful season, the 24-year-old American woman, along with [[Usain Bolt]], were named the 2009 [[World Athlete of the Year|IAAF World Athlete of Year]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Usain Bolt and Sanya Richards named world athletes of the year |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/nov/22/usain-bolt-sanya-richards-iaaf-awards |website=The Guardian |date=22 November 2009 |access-date=22 August 2021}}</ref>

The next two outdoor seasons, however, proved to be difficult and disappointing for the defending world champion. A quad injury right before the 2010 [[Penn Relays]] forced Richards-Ross to prematurely end her 2010 season to rest and regroup.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sanya Richards-Ross: "I am doing everything I can to get back as soon as possible" |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/news/series/sanya-richards-ross-i-am-doing-everything-i-c |website=World Athletics |access-date=22 August 2021}}</ref> She bounced back in 2011 to run a 49.66-second 400 meters race at the London Diamond League meet, just prior to the [[2011 World Championships in Athletics|2011 Daegu World Championships]], sparking some optimism of rounding back into top form in time for the major competition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sanya Richards-Ross 49.66 season's best and victory at London Diamond League 2011 |url=https://www.flotrack.org/events/5004962-london-diamond-league-aviva-london-grand-prix-2011/videos?playing=5294968 |website=FloTrack |access-date=22 August 2021}}</ref> In Daegu, Richards-Ross struggled to find her rhythm as she narrowly qualified for the [[2011 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres|400 meters final]] and then wound up seventh in a time of 51.32 seconds. She later returned in the [[2011 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 meters relay]], this time running the lead-off leg in 49.1 seconds and setting the U.S. women up for victory.

===2012===
====Road to London====
[[File:Fedoriva Richards-Ross Istanbul 2012.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Richards-Ross racing at the [[2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres|2012 Istanbul World Indoor Championships]]]]

Healthy and well-rested, Richards-Ross began her 2012 quest for the coveted individual Olympic gold medal by racing a full indoor schedule to warm up for her outdoor debut.<ref>{{cite book |last=Richards-Ross|first=Sanya|date=2017|title=Chasing Grace: What the Quarter Mile has Taught Me about God and Life|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|pages=175 }}</ref> With four wins in four indoor races under her belt coming into the [[2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships]], she secured a resounding [[2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres|400-meter]] victory in Istanbul with a time of 50.79 seconds, 0.97 seconds ahead of the Russian runner-up.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Richards-Ross |first1=Sanya |title=Richards-Ross is 4-for-4 indoors |url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/athletes-life/story/_/id/7639243/sanya-richards-ross-4-4-indoors |website=ESPN |date=3 March 2012 |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> Her first indoor world title ushered in some much-needed confidence as the outdoor season began. Richards-Ross decisively won the 400-meter final at the [[2012 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|2012 U.S. Olympic trials]], tying the Olympic trials record of 49.28 seconds and earning a berth to her third consecutive Olympics.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Binder |first1=Doug |title=U.S. Olympic trials: Sanya Richards-Ross breaks Hayward Field record in women's 400 |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/trackandfield/2012/06/us_oiympic_trials_sanya_richar.html |website=Oregon Live: The Oregonian |date=25 June 2012 |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> Longtime teammate [[DeeDee Trotter]] and the 2011 world bronze medalist [[Francena McCorory]] finished second and third, respectively, and joined her on the 400 meters team. Later at the trials, Richards-Ross also finished third in the 200-meter sprint in 22.22 seconds, allowing her to attempt the rare 200 meter-400 meter double at the [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 London Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web |title=US Olympic trials: Allyson Felix wins 200m as 100m tie-break looms |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jul/01/us-olympic-trials-allyson-felix |website=The Guardian |date=July 2012 |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref>

Once again, heading into the Olympic Games as the 400-meter favorite, she shouldered the same pressure and expectations, but this time, Richards-Ross was prepared to maintain her serenity amidst the vortex.<ref>{{cite book |last=Richards-Ross|first=Sanya|date=2017|title=Chasing Grace: What the Quarter Mile has Taught Me about God and Life|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|pages=191}}</ref> Stiff competition lined up for the [[Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metres|400 meters final]] in London, including the defending 2008 Olympic champion [[Christine Ohuruogu]] of Great Britain, 2011 world champion [[Amantle Montsho]] of Botswana, and [[Antonina Krivoshapka]] of Russia, who held the world-leading time of 49.16 seconds.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Maidment |first1=Neil |title=Athletics: Richards-Ross in best ever shape, says coach |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-oly-athl-day5-richardsross/athletics-richards-ross-in-best-ever-shape-says-coach-idUKBRE8701M820120801 |website=Reuters |date=August 2012 |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> From the sound of the gun, Richards-Ross executed a race opposite of the one four years ago, pushing hard out of the blocks before relaxing into a comfortable stride down the backstretch and entering the homestretch in the third position, behind Krivoshapka and DeeDee Trotter.<ref>{{cite web |title=USA's Sanya Richards-Ross Wins Women's 400m Gold - London 2012 Olympics |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFp0sRKgBJo |website=YouTube | date=6 August 2012 |publisher=Olympics |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> The U.S. champion willed her legs to pull ahead of the field with fifty meters left of the race and in the final moments, which almost mirrored the 2008 race in Beijing as Ohuruogu closed down quickly on the leading American, Richards-Ross held on to win in 49.55 seconds, finally earning the gold medal that had long eluded her.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hanstock |first1=Bill |title=2012 Olympics, Women's 400m Results: Sanya Richards-Ross Takes The Gold |url=https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/athletics-richards-ross-takes-womens-400-idUSBRE8740QX20120805 |website=SB Nation |date=5 August 2012 |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> This victory became the first time an American woman had won the event in 28 years, since [[Valerie Brisco-Hooks]] in 1984.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pilon |first1=Mary |title=Richards-Ross Breaks American Drought In the Women's 400 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/sports/olympics/us-runner-sanya-richards-ross-wins-gold-in-400.html |website=The New York Times |date=5 August 2012 |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> Despite a fifth-place finish later in the [[Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 200 metres|200 meters]] final, the newly crowned Olympic champion concluded the Games by running 49.1 seconds on the anchor leg of the victorious U.S. women's [[Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 meters relay]] team and left London with two gold medals.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chappell |first1=Bill |last2=Goldman |first2=Tom |title=Allyson Felix Wins Gold In Women's 200 Meters |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetorch/2012/08/08/158428533/field-for-womens-200-meters-is-loaded-with-talent-and-speed |website=NPR |date=8 August 2012 |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Track and Field – Womenʼs 4 × 400 m Relay |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/projects/london2012/track-and-field/womens-4x400m-relay |website=The New York Times |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref>

====Opposition to Rule 40====
[[File:Sanya Richards-Ross - 4x400 relay - 2012 Summer Olympics (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|330px|Richards-Ross celebrating at the [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 Olympic Games]]]]
Throughout the Olympic season, Richards-Ross had appeared at the forefront of an athlete-driven ''#WeDemandChange'' movement advocating against the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) controversial [[Rule 40]], a regulation that forbids Olympic athletes and coaches from acknowledging personal, non-Olympic sponsors by name, wearing additional logos on apparel, or promoting them on social media two weeks before or during the Olympic Games.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Belson |first1=Ken |title=Olympians Take to Twitter to Protest Endorsement Rule |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/31/sports/olympics/athletes-at-olympics-protest-sponsorship-rule-on-twitter.html |website=The New York Times |date=30 July 2012 |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> The rule strived to prevent [[ambush marketing]] and concentrate viewer attention on messages from official Olympic sponsors, such as Coca-Cola and Visa, which had paid a hefty amount for exclusive partnerships with the Games, although none of the multi-billion dollar revenue trickled into athletes' pockets.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Heitner |first1=Darren |title=What Do Professional Athletes Have To Gain From Participating In The London Olympics? |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/darrenheitner/2012/07/31/what-do-professional-athletes-have-to-gain-from-participating-in-the-london-olympics/?sh=79217795695c |website=Forbes |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> Prior to the London Olympics, she sparked a discussion on the topic, tweeting, "With $6 billion exchanging hands during the Olympics why do the athletes compete for free?!? ''#QuestionsThatNeedAnswers'' ''#WeDemandChange''."<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=McClusky |first1=Mark |title=Olympians Take to Twitter to Protest Social Media Restrictions |url=https://www.wired.com/2012/07/olympians-take-to-twitter-to-protest-social-media-restrictions/ |magazine=Wired |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> Since track and field professionals earn the vast majority of their income through sponsorship deals, Rule 40 prevents them from thanking personal sponsors for their endorsement and also dissuades potential non-Olympic sponsors from investing in these athletes when the sport is receiving the most attention.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Heitner |first1=Darren |title=What Do Professional Athletes Have To Gain From Participating In The London Olympics? |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/darrenheitner/2012/07/31/what-do-professional-athletes-have-to-gain-from-participating-in-the-london-olympics/?sh=79217795695c |website=Forbes |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref>

Starting on July 29, 2012, a group of U.S. track and field athletes, including [[Trey Hardee]], [[Bernard Lagat]], [[Nick Symmonds]], and [[Dawn Harper-Nelson]], coordinated a [[Twitter]] campaign to criticize the restriction on athletes' rights, posting messages with hashtags ''#WeDemandChange'', ''#Rule40'', and ''#WeDemandChange2012''.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=McClusky |first1=Mark |title=Olympians Take to Twitter to Protest Social Media Restrictions |url=https://www.wired.com/2012/07/olympians-take-to-twitter-to-protest-social-media-restrictions/ |magazine=Wired |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> Richards-Ross spoke at a news conference regarding the ''#WeDemandChange'' campaign on the following day and explained that although she was fortunate to have secured major sponsorships to continue her training and treatment, many athletes have to work two or three jobs to be able to afford to stay in the sport.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Belson |first1=Ken |title=Olympians Take to Twitter to Protest Endorsement Rule |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/31/sports/olympics/athletes-at-olympics-protest-sponsorship-rule-on-twitter.html |website=The New York Times |date=30 July 2012 |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> Answering conference reporters, she said, "I’ve been very fortunate to do very well around the Olympics, but so many of my peers struggle in the sport, and I think it's unjust that they're not being considered, that athletes are not part of the conversation." At the Olympic Village in London, Richards-Ross helped organize a group of track and field athletes to share their concerns, further their message to the IOC, and discuss potential regulation amendments to accommodate the athletes, with several options including permission to post sponsors on social media, clearance to wear non-Olympic sponsor logos, and IOC-funded prize money.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pilon |first1=Mary |title=Games Are Over; Battle Goes On |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/sports/olympics/sanya-richards-ross-fights-for-olympic-athletes-rights.html |website=The New York Times |date=25 August 2012 |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> Efforts by these track and field athletes, along with later campaigns voicing Olympic athletes' discontent, finally pushed to the IOC to slightly amend Rule 40 for the [[2020 Summer Olympics|2020 Tokyo Olympics]], allowing athletes to promote personal sponsors and appear in their advertisements during the Games, within specific guidelines.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Du |first1=Lisa |title=Olympians Try to Cash In Hawking Cereal, Detergent to Millions of New Instagram Followers |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-05/olympians-can-finally-earn-their-own-money-on-social-media |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=5 August 2021 |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref>

===2015–Retirement===
Following two surgeries to correct a persistent toe problem, Richards-Ross injured her calf muscle right before the [[2015 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|2015 U.S. national championships]], which lead her to finish fifth in her semi-final and prevent her from qualifying for the [[2015 World Championships in Athletics|2015 Beijing World Championships]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2015 USATF Championship Results |url=http://www.legacy.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2015/USATF-Outdoor-Championships/Results-by-Day/Results-FULL.aspx |website=USA Track & Field |access-date=6 September 2021 |archive-date=5 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005155325/http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2015/USATF-Outdoor-Championships/Results-by-Day/Results-FULL.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Scott |first1=Roxanna |title=Sanya Richards-Ross aiming for gold in Rio despite tough season |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2015/09/30/sanya-richards-ross-aiming-gold-rio-de-janeiro/73115282/ |website=USA Today |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> Despite not making the individual team, the track veteran was still selected to be on the women's [[2015 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|4 × 400 meters relay]] in Beijing. There, she ran a 51.5-second leg to help the United States team win silver.<ref>{{cite web |title=Women's 4 × 400 m Final Splits – Allyson Felix Officially 47.72 |url=https://www.watchathletics.com/article/9219/women-s-4x400m-final-splits-allyson-felix-officially-47-72 |website=Watch Athletics |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> Richards-Ross admitted later that overtraining, as she was approaching the closing stages of her career, might have contributed to the rapid decline in the latter part of the season.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weir |first1=Stuart |title=Sanya Richards-Ross talks 2016 |url=https://athleticsweekly.com/featured/sanya-richards-ross-talks-2016-37314/ |website=Athletics Weekly |date=28 December 2015 |access-date=11 September 2021}}</ref>

2016 began with the official announcement of her retirement by the end of the track season.<ref>{{cite book |last=Richards-Ross|first=Sanya|date=2017|title=Chasing Grace: What the Quarter Mile has Taught Me about God and Life|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|pages=186}}</ref> Still in recovery from a third toe surgery, the reigning 400-meter Olympic champion suffered an injury to her right hamstring at the [[2016 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|2016 U.S. Olympic trials]], prompting her to discontinue the race and salute the [[Hayward Field]] crowd one last time.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zaccardi |first1=Nick |title=Sanya Richards-Ross to retire after Rio Olympics |url=https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2016/04/25/sanya-richards-ross-retire-rio-olympics-track-and-field/ |website=NBC Sports |date=25 April 2016 |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bohnert |first1=Craig |title=Sanya Richards-Ross Unable to Finish Heat |url=https://www.teamusa.org/News/2016/July/01/Sanya-Richards-Ross-Unable-To-Complete-Heat-Retires-At-Olympic-Trials |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705014042/http://www.teamusa.org/News/2016/July/01/Sanya-Richards-Ross-Unable-To-Complete-Heat-Retires-At-Olympic-Trials |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 5, 2016 |website=Team USA |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> Shortly after retiring, Richards-Ross joined the [[NBC]] broadcasting team as a track and field analyst for major events, such as the [[2016 Summer Olympics|2016]], [[2020 Summer Olympics|2020]], and [[2024 Summer Olympics|2024]] Summer Olympics.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Acosta |first1=Amelia |title=You cannot separate your human experience from your sporting success: A conversation with Sanya Richards-Ross |url=https://onherturf.nbcsports.com/2021/04/21/sanya-richards-ross-track-field-olympic-medalist-nbc-analyst/ |website=NBC Sports |date=21 April 2021 |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref>

==Personal life==
While attending the [[University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas]], Richards-Ross began dating [[Texas Longhorns football|Longhorn football]] cornerback [[Aaron Ross]], who later won two [[Super Bowl]]s with the [[New York Giants]] of the [[National Football League|NFL]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft07/news/story?id=2822133|title=Perfect match: Track star girlfriend pushes Ross|date=2 April 2007|website=ESPN.com|access-date=4 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Townsend |first=Brad |title=Sanya Richards: More than snake-bitten |url=http://olympicsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/08/sanya-richards-more-than-snake.html |newspaper=[[Dallas Morning News]] |date=2008-08-19 |access-date=2008-08-19 }}</ref> The two were engaged in 2007 and married in 2010.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mallozzi |first1=Vincent |title=Sanya Richards and Aaron Ross |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/fashion/weddings/07VOWS.html?ref=weddings |website=The New York Times |date=4 March 2010 |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> Their wedding was featured on an episode of ''[[Platinum Weddings]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wetv.com/shows/platinum-weddings/episodes/season-5/sanya-and-aaron |title=Platinum Weddings – Sanya & Aaron – WE tv |publisher=Wetv.com |date=2011-02-25 |access-date=2011-09-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427103752/http://www.wetv.com/shows/platinum-weddings/episodes/season-5/sanya-and-aaron |archive-date=2011-04-27 }}</ref> The pair welcomed their first child, Aaron Jermaine Ross II, in 2017, and announced in July 2023 that they were expecting their second child, later revealed to be a boy in September 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Juris |first1=Yvonne |title=Aaron and Sanya Richards-Ross Welcome Son Aaron Jermaine II |url=https://people.com/parents/sanya-richards-ross-aaron-ross-welcome-son-aaron-jermaine/ |website=People |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref> In February 23, 2025, the couple expecting their third child together.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 23, 2025 |title=Sanya Richards-Ross & Aaron Ross Expecting Baby #3 |url=https://bossip.com/2786708/congratulations-sanya-richards-ross-aaron-ross-expecting-baby-3/ |website=bossip.com}}</ref> On July 2, 2025, they welcomed their another son.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2, 2025 |title=Real Housewives of Atlanta Star Sanya Richards-Ross Welcomes Baby No. 3 with Husband Aaron Ross |url=https://people.com/rhoa-sanya-richards-ross-welcomes-baby-no-3-with-husband-aaron-ross-11753827 |website=people.com}}</ref>

For five years, Richards-Ross suffered from severe onsets of mouth ulcers, joint aches, and full-body skin lesions, which in 2007, doctors initially thought were caused by a rare, chronic disease involving the inflammation of blood vessels called [[Behçet's disease]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kessel |first1=Anna |title='To go from being healthy to having this very rare disease was scary' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/may/23/sanya-richards-ross |website=The Guardian |date=22 May 2010 |access-date=11 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Slater |first1=Matt |title=London 2012: Diagnosis boost for Sanya Richards-Ross |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/18496476 |access-date=11 September 2021}}</ref> She began donning compression arm sleeves in competition to hide her ulcerated skin, but as a fashion enthusiast, later embraced the extra garment as part of her trademark look.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Elliott |first1=Helene |title=Sanya Richards-Ross has visions of gold |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/la-xpm-2012-jun-27-la-sp-0628-oly-track-richards-ross-20120628-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |date=27 June 2012 |access-date=11 September 2021}}</ref>

Exploring new opportunities off the track, in 2013, Richards-Ross premiered her [[WE tv]] reality TV show ''Glam and Gold'', a docu-series that followed her as she juggled appearances, ran businesses, trained for the track season, and balanced life with her husband and family.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wetv.com/shows/sanyas-glam-gold/about |title=Sanya's Glam & Gold – About – WE tv |access-date=2013-06-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820090730/http://www.wetv.com/shows/sanyas-glam-gold/about |archive-date=2013-08-20 }}</ref> Primarily shot at their home in Austin, the series also visited [[Florida]], [[New York (state)|New York]], and [[Jamaica]], where she took Team SRR for an Olympic victory lap and celebration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wetv.com/life-as-we-know-it/blogs/sanyas-glam-and-gold-official-press-release|title=Sanya's Glam and Gold: Official Press Release|access-date=4 November 2018}}</ref>

==Achievements==
===Competition record===
{| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes|Result=yes|NotesOff=yes}}
|-
!colspan="6"|Representing the {{flagu|United States}}
|-
|rowspan=3|2002
|rowspan=3|[[2002 World Junior Championships in Athletics|World Junior Championships]]
|rowspan=3|[[Kingston, Jamaica]]
|bgcolor="cc9966"|3rd
|200 m
|[[2002 World Junior Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres|23.09]] <small>(wind: -0.2&nbsp;m/s)</small>
|-
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|400 m
|[[2002 World Junior Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres|51.49]]
|-
|3rd (h)<ref>Competed only in the heat.</ref>
|4 × 400 m relay
|[[2002 World Junior Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|3:35.84]]
|-
|rowspan=2|2003
|rowspan=2|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Paris, France]]
|11th (sf)
|400 m
|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres|51.32]]
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|4 × 400 m relay
|[[2003 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|3:22.63]]
|-
|rowspan=2|2004
|rowspan=2|[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|rowspan=2|[[Athens, Greece]]
|6th
|400 m
|[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metres|50.19]]
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|{{nowrap|4 × 400 m}} relay
|[[Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|3:19.01]]
|-
|rowspan=2|2005
|[[2005 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Helsinki, Finland]]
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|400 m
|[[2005 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres|49.74]]
|-
|[[2005 World Athletics Final|World Athletics Final]]
|[[Monaco]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|400 m
|49.52
|-
|rowspan=5|2006
|[[2006 World Indoor Championships in Athletics|World Indoor Championships]]
|[[Moscow, Russia]]
|9th (sf)
|400 m
|[[2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres|52.46]]
|-
|rowspan=2|[[2006 World Athletics Final|World Athletics Final]]
|rowspan=2|[[Stuttgart, Germany]]
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|200 m
|22.17
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|400 m
|49.25
|-
|rowspan=2|[[2006 IAAF World Cup|World Cup]]
|rowspan=2|[[Athens, Greece]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|400 m
|48.70
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|200 m
|22.23
|-
|rowspan=2|2007
|rowspan=2|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Osaka, Japan]]
|5th
|200 m
|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 200 metres|22.70]]
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|4 × 400 m relay
|[[2007 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|3:18.55]]
|-
|rowspan=2|2008
|rowspan=2|[[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|rowspan=2|[[Beijing, China]]
|bgcolor=cc9966|3rd
|400 m
|[[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metres|49.93]]
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|4 × 400 m relay
|[[Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|3:18.54]]
|-
|rowspan=2|2009
|rowspan=2|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|rowspan=2|Berlin, Germany
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|400 m
|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres|49.00]]
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|4 × 400 m relay
|[[2009 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|3:17.83]]
|-
|rowspan=2|2011
|rowspan=2|[[2011 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Daegu, South Korea]]
|7th
|400 m
|[[2011 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 400 metres|51.32]]
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|4 × 400 m relay
|[[2011 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|3:18.09]]
|-
|rowspan=5|2012
|rowspan=2|[[2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships|World Indoor Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Istanbul, Turkey]]
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|400 m
|[[2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 400 metres|50.79]]
|-
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|4 × 400 m relay
|[[2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|3:28.79]]
|-
|rowspan=3|[[Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
|rowspan=3|[[London, United Kingdom]]
|5th
|200 m
|[[Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 200 metres|22.39]]
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|400 m
|[[Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metres|49.55]]
|-
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|4 × 400 m relay
|[[Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|3:16.88]]
|-
|2014
|[[2014 IAAF World Relays|World Relay Championships]]
|[[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]], Bahamas
|bgcolor="gold"| 1st
|4 × 400 m relay
|[[2014 IAAF World Relays – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|3:21.73]]
|-
|rowspan=3|2015
|rowspan=2|[[2015 IAAF World Relays|World Relay Championships]]
|rowspan=2|[[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]], Bahamas
|bgcolor=gold|1st
|Distance medley relay
|[[2015 IAAF World Relays – Women's distance medley relay|10:36.50]] '''(WR)'''
|-
| bgcolor="gold"| 1st
|4 × 400 m relay
|[[2015 IAAF World Relays – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|3:19.39]]
|-
|[[2015 World Championships in Athletics|World Championships]]
|[[Beijing, China]]
|bgcolor=silver|2nd
|4 × 400 m relay
|[[2015 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 4 × 400 metres relay|3:19.44]]
|}

===National titles===
*Six-time national 400 meters champion – [[2003 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|2003]] (51.01), [[2005 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|2005]] (49.28), [[2006 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|2006]] (49.27), [[2008 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|2008]] (49.89), [[2009 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships|2009]] (50.05), [[2012 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)|2012]] (49.28)

===Personal bests===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|- "
!Event
!Time (seconds)
!Venue
!Date
|-
|[[60 metres|60&nbsp;meters]]
|7.21
|[[Lincoln, Nebraska]], United States
|February 28, 2004
|-
|[[100 metres|100&nbsp;meters]]
|10.97*
|[[Shanghai]], China
|September 28, 2007
|-
|[[200 metres|200&nbsp;meters]]
|22.09
|New York City, USA
|June 8, 2012
|-
|[[400 metres|400&nbsp;meters]]
|48.70
|[[Athens]], Greece
|September 16, 2006
|}
*<small>All information from [[World Athletics]] profile.<ref>{{cite web |title=Profile: Sanya Richards-Ross |url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/sanya-richards-ross-14319838 |website=World Athletics |access-date=9 September 2021}}</ref></small>

===Diamond League wins===
*[[2011 Diamond League|2011]] – London (400 m)
*[[2012 Diamond League|2012]] – Eugene (400 m), New York (200 m), Stockholm (400 m), Zurich (400 m)

==Awards==
* [[World Athletics Awards]]
:: World Athlete of the Year (Women)：2006, 2009<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Athletes of the Year |url=https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/651c81d5050f9b2bc0433282.pdf?_gl=1*6hkuqu*_ga*NjYxMTM1NTI5LjE3MTUyMjE3MTY.*_ga_7FE9YV46NW*MTcxNTIyMTcxNS4xLjEuMTcxNTIyMTcyMi4wLjAuMA.. |website=[[World Athletics]] |format=PDF |access-date=}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Sanya Richards-Ross}}
* {{Official website|https://sanyarichardsross.com/}}
* {{World Athletics|united-states/sanya-richards-ross-14319838}}
* {{USATF|Sanya-Richards-Ross}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Alan Webb (runner)|Alan Webb]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[USA Track & Field]] Youth Athlete of the Year |years=2002 }}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jason Richardson (hurdler)|Jason Richardson]] }}
{{succession box|title=[[Track & Field Athlete of the Year|Women's Track & Field Athlete of the Year]]|before={{flagicon|RUS}} [[Yelena Isinbayeva]]|after={{flagicon|ETH}} [[Meseret Defar]]|years=[[2006 in athletics (track and field)|2006]]}}
{{succession box|title=[[Track & Field Athlete of the Year|Women's Track & Field Athlete of the Year]]|before={{flagicon|ETH}} [[Tirunesh Dibaba]]|after={{flagicon|CRO}} [[Blanka Vlašić]]|years=[[2009 in athletics (track and field)|2009]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{IAAF World Athlete of the Year (women)}}
{{Gatorade National Track and Field Athlete of the Year}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 400 m Women}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 4x400 m Women}}
{{Footer World Champions 400 m Women}}
{{Footer World Champions 4 x 400 m Women}}
{{Footer World Indoor Champions 400 m Women}}
{{Footer World Athletics U20 Champions women's 4x400 metres}}
{{Footer WBYP 400m Women}}
{{Footer US NC 400m Women}}
{{Footer US NC Indoor 400m Women}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Richards-Ross, Sanya}}
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:American women sprinters]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Jamaican emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in track and field]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes from Kingston, Jamaica]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Fort Lauderdale, Florida]]
[[Category:St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Florida) alumni]]
[[Category:Texas Longhorns women's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for the United States]]
[[Category:Jamaican women sprinters]]
[[Category:World Athletics record holders (relay)]]
[[Category:IAAF Golden League winners]]
[[Category:Track & Field News Athlete of the Year winners]]
[[Category:USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:USA Indoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:World Athletics Indoor Championships winners]]
[[Category:World Athletics Indoor Championships medalists]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:IAAF World Athletics Final winners]]
[[Category:Olympic women sprinters]]
[[Category:NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships winners]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportswomen]]
[[Category:Diamond League winners]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States]]