Sha’Carri Richardson might just be the next Flo-Jo with her impressive athletic abilities and unique sense of style. During the 2024 Olympics, her eye-catching themed nails really stood out.
Known for her flashy manicures, Richardson showcased her patriotism with coffin and stiletto nails, all custom-made by New York nail artist Kelly Phan. Phan, who has been featured in magazines like Vogue and Allure, was specially sought out by Richardson to create a series of press-on nail sets.
For the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony, Phan designed the first set using red, white, and blue to express American pride. The nails featured an American flag, embellished French tips, and jewels. Alongside this patriotic theme, Phan created a bright neon and colorful stiletto set for Richardson’s 100M semi-final, complete with handpicked beads and gemstones arranged in a mosaic pattern.
Phan’s passion for manicuring shines through her creative and vibrant designs. For Richardson’s third set, she opted for a more subtle look with purple and lavender hues. Richardson was photographed with her hands in prayer before winning the silver medal in the 100M final, and her nails perfectly complemented the USA track and field uniform colors.
The final set Phan created had a golden, tiger-like tip design with gold studs outlining a nude base. This design was inspired by Richardson’s goal to win a gold medal, which she did in the Women’s 4x100m Relay. Richardson sported this fourth set while attending the Men’s Basketball Olympic Games Final between France and Team USA.
Kelly Phan has shown that she is an exceptional manicurist, creating architectural and iconic nail designs for Sha’Carri Richardson that are unlike anything we’ve seen before.