ESSENCE Black Women In Sports host, Sharí Nycole, recently connected with 4-Time USA gold medalist, Sanya Richards-Ross, at the Team USA Media Summit, and the two discussed Sanya’s growing family, how black female athletes can take up space in the upcoming Paris Games and her new Team USA pajama line.
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00:00 This is so fun, everybody. Day two, okay?
00:03 And my first interview is literally with an icon.
00:06 Sonja Richards-Ross, we haven't talked
00:08 since the Black Women in Sports brunch.
00:10 It was in Atlanta almost two years ago.
00:13 Since then, you've become a mom again.
00:15 -Again. -How has it been now?
00:18 Baby number two, doing it all over again.
00:21 How's that journey been for you?
00:22 I am loving being a mom again.
00:24 You know, I honestly feel like I'm having a better experience
00:26 the second time around because I think I learned so much
00:29 from my first baby.
00:30 I've been having some fun conversations
00:31 with a lot of our female Black Olympians and Paralympians,
00:35 and one of the things they keep talking about
00:36 is being authentic.
00:38 You know, I've asked them, "What does this privilege mean
00:40 to them as a Black woman?"
00:41 And that's really what's been talked about.
00:43 For you, you know, what say you to just how we're representing,
00:47 how Black women are representing overall in sports
00:49 and now taking it a step further as we move to Paris?
00:52 I just -- I'm just so proud of how Black women
00:54 are showing up for themselves in sports,
00:57 being authentic, not feeling like they have to be
00:59 one way or another, but just, I mean,
01:01 completely showing up authentically
01:03 on the track and off the track.
01:05 The world has changed, and it's a delight for me
01:08 as kind of an old head in the sport
01:10 where I feel like, you know, there was this kind of like,
01:12 "You know, I just want to represent Team USA.
01:13 You have to be perfect all the time."
01:15 And I think women have shed that,
01:16 not just Black women, all women,
01:18 but especially for us that I know it's a lot harder
01:20 sometimes for us to show up in rooms
01:22 and authentically be ourselves.
01:23 So I'm just so proud.
01:24 I hope that they continue to do that.
01:26 And I think when you show up authentically,
01:27 you're your best self.
01:28 So they're going to perform even better,
01:29 and they're going to be able to be so relatable
01:32 to so many young Black girls who look up to them
01:34 and who also want to live that dream.
01:35 So it's, you know, it's really special.
01:37 Speaking of a dream, speaking of authenticity,
01:39 you already knew where I was going.
01:41 I'm so excited for you to let us know
01:43 the story behind what's going on here.
01:45 A few months ago, I thought about the fact that,
01:47 you know, athletes, they get this really cool kit, right,
01:49 before you go to the Olympics, and everybody gets so excited
01:52 to get their gear and all this stuff.
01:53 And it's like, when you think about athletes holistically,
01:56 rest is such an important part of being successful,
01:59 especially when you get to the Olympics.
02:01 And so I thought, what a unique opportunity
02:03 for me to combine all the things that I love.
02:06 I love, you know, creativity, to coordinate.
02:09 I love designing.
02:10 And of course, I love the Olympics,
02:12 and I love sports.
02:13 So to be able to be the first athlete
02:16 to own the license to Team USA, honey.
02:19 - Number one.
02:20 - Hey, hey, hey.
02:21 You know, and to be able to show up in this way
02:25 for athlete just means everything to me.
02:27 We designed these pajamas with so much love.
02:30 This is our plaid collection.
02:32 We also have our inspirational collection.
02:34 And not only is it, I think, inspiring for the Olympians,
02:37 but also for us and for young people
02:39 to live in their dreams.
02:40 So you can pre-order today
02:41 and be a part of the Team USA experience.
02:43 - I do want to ask, how are you prepping for Paris?
02:46 - You know, it's almost the same like when I was an athlete.
02:48 You know, I think it's about just being in the moment,
02:50 being present.
02:51 I start watching events early
02:52 and seeing what athletes are doing.
02:54 So that way I can tell the story
02:56 of not just them on the track that one day,
02:58 but you know, the journey that they've taken to get there.
03:00 So I'm super excited about it.
03:02 - I'm so glad I ran into,
03:03 just a happenstance run in, in the media room.
03:06 Divine connections indeed.
03:08 Thank you for your example.
03:10 I just wish you and our Essence audience,
03:11 wishes you the absolute best.
03:13 Thank you so much for the opportunity to talk.
03:15 - Of course.
03:16 Thank you, Cherise.
03:17 Awesome.
03:18 - Bye, you guys. - Bye.