Sha’Carri Richardson has described Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce as a phenomenon but says the person she would most like to emulate is Usain Bolt.

The brash 21-year-old rising star was speaking to British media ahead of Sunday’s highly anticipated clash with the Jamaican two-time Olympic champion and reigning European champion Dina Asher-Smith at Gateshead.

Richardson has the three fastest times in the 100m in the world this year – 10.72, 10.74 and 10.77 – which has, in the eyes of many, made her the favourite to become the first American woman since Gail Devers to win an Olympic gold medal in the blue-riband sprint. (Marion Jones won in Sydney in 2000 but was subsequently stripped of the title).

Asked about Fraser-Pryce’s incredible success, attained while balancing competition with motherhood, she replied: “I prefer not to talk about other athletes but I’m actually very proud that she is a black woman who is continuing to have a career while having a family as well. She’s a phenomenon. She has all the respect from me.”

Notwithstanding, she most wants to be like Bolt, who, through the sport, became a global super star.

 “Absolutely. I want women to see they can be exactly who they are. You don’t have to be all quiet and shy, unless you want to be. You don’t have to shield yourself. I felt generations of women before us were like that. That’s a very big message I would like to send,” said the young woman, who has rekindled memories of the flamboyant late world-record holder Florence Griffith-Joyner.

“I like showing my style as I know that if I look good, I feel and perform good. I like to express myself on the track and be unique – you can be stylish as well as fast. The hair, nails and tattoos show who I am; you have to invest in how you look but it’s all about talent on the start line.”

However, she said any thought of her challenging Flo-Jo’s world records would be a tad premature.

“Flo-Jo is my idol – she brought a different mindset to the game. The world record (10.49) will take a different level of training and mindset – that goal is definitely part of the journey but I know I have to be patient.”