Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: Legendary Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will retire after the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo next month.
Injury forced the three-time Olympic champion's withdrawal from the 100m final at the Paris Olympic last year that led to her decision to compete for one final time.
"I didn't get the opportunity to do what I know I could have done in that moment," the 38-year-old told reporters over a video call, as quoted by Reuters.
"And it was hurtful. It was the first time in my entire career that I've never been able to step to a line to compete."
With 10 gold medals at Worlds on top of her Olympics haul, she has nothing new left to achieve in the sport that she redefined, yet she qualified with a third-place finish at the Jamaican 100m trials.
Through her ninth World Championships appearance, the five-foot sprinter, known as 'Pocket Rocket', will complete a "full-circle moment" after her debut in Osaka in 2007, where she was a reserve for the 4x100m relay team.
"I just remember being so unsure of who I was, very mediocre goals, just happy to be there," she said.
"Fast forward to being here now, being able to be in this moment and confident of who I am, the woman I am, the mother I am, the athlete I am, it's just such a remarkable feeling."
Fraser-Pryce stepped away for the birth of her son Zyon in 2017 and returned to win the the 100m at the 2019 and 2022 Worlds to break stereotypes around pregnancy in sport.
"When I crossed that line (in 2019), I knew it was a victory, not just for me but for so many other women, for so many other mothers," she told World Athletics.
"My son is my biggest motivation. I think for women, it teaches us that our dreams don't end when we become mothers. If anything, (children) add value to our dreams and our goals."
Being the only sprinter with five successive 100m World titles, her legacy is well established and she wants her last bow to be a celebration
"Standing at that (starting) line ... is a huge success," she said, adding a bold race-day hair colour, which has been her signature.
"I'm really looking forward to just celebrating the story, the commitment and the joy that this sport has given me. I want to continue to empower women and youth (post-retirement), especially back home," she signed off.
