Golden girl Fraser-Pryce going for glory again
A decade and a half after her Olympic debut, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce shows no signs of slowing down and is ready to go for gold again at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest later this summer.
After announcing herself with 100m Olympic gold at the Beijing Games in 2008, she has won 22 Olympic and World medals, becoming the first woman to complete the 100m in under 10.7 seven times in a calendar year, in 2022.
So it was no surprise that she was the winner of the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award in May this year, at a glittering night of sporting celebration.
“I was thrilled to be nominated alongside such inspiring female athletes,” Fraser-Pryce said. “To win this Award, voted for by some of the greatest sportsmen and women of all time, is just amazing.
“This is the sixth time I’ve been nominated in this category, so to finally hold the Laureus statuette in my hands is one of the greatest honours of my career.
“When athletes have the spotlight, it’s important the example we set is the best it can be. We have a responsibility to influence the next generation in a positive way and that’s what the Laureus Awards are all about.”
She believes that this year could be even better as she continues to hone and refine her technique.
She explained: “Every part of my being believes I can run faster. I genuinely believe that in my soul. It’s so strange to say that at 36, but what drives me is that every part of my being believes I can run faster.
“A lot of people say, finish on a high. That’s good. But I only want to finish when I cross the line knowing I have given it everything. Then it will be time to quit.
“Every year that I go to practice, I am almost like a sponge. I am always willing to learn and try something else. You can’t stay the same. You have to evolve.”
Fraser-Pryce’s determination is underlined by the fact that she has returned to the top despite the challenges of giving birth to son Zyon in 2017 by caesarean section.
“I think since having my son I’ve run my best times and had the most fun, I’m most relaxed, so I’m excited about that.
“The message I definitely want to get across to female athletes is there is nothing wrong with being strong,” she says. “There is nothing wrong with being competitive, fierce, and wanting to win.
“Because as women we are told, ‘Oh just be cute, and just run and look nice and whatever’. But now I am comfortable in my skin, with who I am, and the gift God has given me. And I am making sure that I express that in a genuine and authentic way.
“Motherhood doesn’t stop you from achieving your dreams. Just continue what you already started. So it’s up to you to just have that belief. If anything it just makes you stronger. I really want my legacy to be about impact, showing women that you can do anything at any stage of your career.”
With her astonishing current form and a further three World Championships medals up for grabs in Hungary this summer, that point is clearly not yet on the horizon.
She added: “I’ve definitely been using each year to continue to work. Last year was a phenomenal year and I’m looking forward to build on that and hopefully take it to Paris.”
Fans all around the world will undoubtedly tune in to see how the Jamaican athlete will manage to make history this year and beyond.
For more information about the Laureus World Sports Awards, please click HERE