The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Richards-Ross finds a home in Texas, inducted into Hall of Fame
03.07.2014 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Four-time Olympic gold medalist was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame last week
By Lauren Giudice, Texas Media Relations
Sanya Richards-Ross was neither born nor raised in Texas. She moved here 12 years ago to compete for the Texas track and field team and made the state her home.
While she has embraced Texas for many years, the state truly honored the Longhorn legend by inducting her into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame on Feb. 27 in Waco, Texas.
The four-time Olympic gold medalist, originally from Jamaica, felt honored to receive such special recognition from her adopted state.
"It's just incredible," Richards-Ross said. "Texas has just been amazing to me. I feel like I've been so blessed being here in Texas so this honor is just icing on the cake. Of course, I train down here and I drive by here all the time so to now actually be enshrined here is unbelievable."
She believes that the Texas Sports Hall of Fame is one of the hardest to get into because so many great athletes are Texas products. She specifically mentioned that she admires Ricky Williams and Cat Osterman, two other Longhorn legends, who were both inducted last year.
She credits state of Texas, especially the University, for much of her success. It also led her to her husband, current NFL and former UT cornerback Aaron Ross. She met him while they were both student-athletes at Texas and married in 2010.
"Texas is home," Richards-Ross said. "I've been all over the world and all over the country and nothing compares to Texas for me, especially Austin. Texas is home and we love it here. This is going to be where we have our kids and our Rosses, so we love it here."
When Richards-Ross thinks about her time at UT, she distinctly remembers her teammates' camaraderie and how much they pushed each other to succeed at NCAAs. In her two years at the UT (2003-04), she was a five-time NCAA champion and earned All-America honors 11 times. She led the Longhorns to a second-place finish at the 2003 NCAA Outdoor meet, accounting for 14 of the team's 50 points by winning the 400 meters, anchoring the victorious 4x400-meter relay and running the second leg of the third-place 4x100 relay.
She also remembers how welcomed she felt on campus. She still feels that when she returns to campus, it reminds her why she signed with the school.
Richards-Ross attended the induction ceremony with her husband, parents and other family members.
"It's a strange thing feeling that connection some place in the world," said her father, Archie Richards. "I know exactly that feeling because I feel that for different parts of the world. But as soon as she got to that university she felt something that made her know that she was home. UT changed her life and changed the path of her life. It helped bring her tremendous success as a result of her decision to come to UT. It was always be a special part of her life."
He said Richards-Ross is always looking ahead to her next goal, so she doesn't dwell on her accomplishments.
At only 29 years old, Richards-Ross is still competing and plans to participate in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. This was her first time being nominated into the Hall of Fame and she was shocked to be inducted at such a young age.
She was told that she was going to be inducted the day before Thanksgiving and was extremely excited. Richards, who won gold in both the 400 and 4x400m relay at the 2012 London Olympics, felt the timing was right because she was thankful for the honor and to share it with her whole family.
To her, this honor is compatible with winning the Olympic gold medal and when she was named the IAAF World Female Athlete of the Year in 2006.
"As a little kid I dreamt of being an Olympic champion," Richards-Ross said. "All of the amazing things that have come with it has just been icing on the cake. My dad always told me that if I worked hard I could achieve anything and I've always tried to give my best and in London I achieved my dream of being an Olympic champion and now to be here today it's just a testament to what hard work and great support from my family and my coaches can really do."
