The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2011
A two-time Olympic gold medalist, four-time World Champion, five-time NCAA Champion and 11-time All-American, Richards-Ross remains one of the top 400-meter runners in the world. During her two seasons in Austin, she led the Longhorns to three Top Five team finishes at the NCAA Championships. As a freshman in 2003, Richards-Ross helped Texas to a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championship with second-place individual performances in the 200 meters and the 400 meters while running the anchor leg on the NCAA Champion 4x400-meter relay. She then led the Longhorns to a second-place showing at the NCAA Outdoor Championship by winning the 400-meter individual title, running the anchor leg on the victorious 4x400-meter relay and helping the 4x100-meter relay to a third-place finish. In her sophomore season in 2004, Richards-Ross helped Texas to a tie for seventh place at the NCAA Indoor Championship by winning the 400-meter individual title, running the anchor leg on the NCAA Champion 4x400-meter relay and placing second in the 200 meters. She then led the Horns to a fourth-place showing at the NCAA Outdoor Championship by placing third in the 400 meters. Still the UT record-holder in both the indoor and outdoor 400 meters, Richards-Ross also excelled on the conference level during her career. She swept all four possible Big 12 Conference Indoor and Outdoor Performer of the Year accolades in both 2003 and 2004 and won eight league individual titles and four conference relay crowns. Richards-Ross turned professional following her sophomore year and earned her first Olympic gold medal as part of Team USA’s victorious 4x400-meter relay at the 2004 Athens Games. Four years later at the 2008 Beijing Games, she won a bronze medal in the 400 meters and claimed her second Olympic gold medal by anchoring the Team USA’s winning 4x400 meter relay. Richards-Ross also won the 400 meters at the 2009 World Outdoor Championships and has claimed three World Outdoor titles on Team USA’s 4x400-meter relay (2003, 2007 and 2009). In addition, she has claimed five USA Outdoor 400-meter championships (2003, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009). Richards-Ross earned World Athlete of the Year accolades from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the Jesse Owens Award (USA Track and Field’s highest annual honor) in both 2006 and 2009. She made history in 2005, becoming the youngest woman ever to run under 49 seconds in the 400 meters with her time of 48.92 in Zurich. One year later at age 21, Richards-Ross set the American record in the 400 meters with her time of 48.70 at the IAAF World Cup in Athens. She won the Visa Humanitarian Athlete of the Year award in 2005 for her participation in USA Track and Field’s “Be a Champion” program, and she was one of four individuals selected to receive the Outstanding Young Texas Ex Award in 2010. Richards-Ross resides in both Austin and New York City with her husband, former UT football player Aaron Ross.
