Jamaica is known for producing brilliant prodigies in sprinting. The country has given us the fastest man in the world and arguably the most celebrated athlete of our time, Usain Bolt. This same place which forged Bolt, also ended up gifting the world arguably the greatest female track star of all time. Born in Kingston, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is considered one of the greatest sprinters of all time. Her superlative achievements rival the best of the best. She has proven time and time again that whenever we witness her, it’s a blessing for the spectators. In 2008, she was unknown to everybody in Beijing. During the trials, she finished second place which meant that popular sprinter Veronica Campbell Brown would stay home.

Many were unhappy, commenting that Fraser-Pryce was too young and inexperienced, making it too risky to take her to the games. However, the criticism only fueled her determination. Embracing her underdog status, she shocked the world by winning the gold medal in the 100m final with a time of 10.78 seconds, the second-fastest in Olympic history at the time. From that moment, there was no stopping her. Fraser-Pryce went on to dominate the world of sprinting, amassing an Olympic medal tally of eight: 3 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze.

But, as they say, all good things come to an end. In a recent interview, Fraser-Pryce announced her retirement from the sport to which she dedicated her life. The Paris Olympics will be her last competitive run ever. It would be a sad day for the sprinting world to see such a big name call it a day, but nothing is permanent.

Reason for Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s retirement after Paris Olympics

The Jamaican sprinter has decided to call it a day after the Paris Olympics. She explained that the three-time Olympic champion now wants to dedicate her life full-time to her family. She mentioned that her seven-year-old son needs his mother during this vital stage of childhood. Her decision is also influenced by her acknowledgment of the sacrifices her husband made for her career. She opened up about it and said, “My husband and I have been together since before I won in 2008. He has sacrificed for me. We’re a partnership, a team. And it’s because of that support that I’m able to do the things that I have been doing for all these years.” 

Thus, a lot of this decision comes from her willingness to express gratitude to him. She has been in a relationship since before her victory in the Beijing Olympics and her becoming well-known all over the world. His name is Jason Pryce. They got married in 2011 in a Christian ceremony aligning with their beliefs. Six years later, she would announce her pregnancy on social media. That was the first time she expressed her desire to concentrate on her motherhood. In the post, she said, “All my focus heading into training for my 2017 season was on getting healthy and putting myself in the best possible fitness to successfully defend my title in London 2017, but … here I am thinking about being the greatest mother I can be.”

Thus, this decision shouldn’t shock the fans as it has been a long time coming. She always wanted to concentrate on her family and motherhood.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympics

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s imminent retirement from the sport has not affected her preparation at all. She wants to give another commendable performance in the Paris Olympics, potentially increasing her medal tally. This would be the best way to leave the sport.

She has also been dealing with her injury which shattered her hopes for a title during the World Championships in Budapest. The 37-year-old sprinter believes that every time she enters the arena, she must inspire the next generation. She believes that this is a much bigger cause than just winning medals. Regardless of the results in Paris, her legacy has been written in stone and she will always be one of the best to ever do it.