36-year-old Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is a track and field legend. The five-time world champion has been ruling the 100 m and 200 m categories ever since she rose to fame at 21. At that age, Shelly became the first Caribbean woman to win gold in the 100 m at the 2008 Olympics. Since then, she has been an unstoppable force, breaking stereotypes of female athletes. Recently, the 36-year-old athlete spoke against ageism in the track and field community by comparing it with other sports.

On June 13, Fraser-Pryce appeared in an interview with Athletics Weekly. In the conversation, she reflected on the age disparity that prevails in her sport. Expressing that she feels healthy enough even at 36, she questioned her critics in the interview, “why can’t I continue?”

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce shares how she feels about herself competing at 36

At an age when most athletes think of retirement, Fraser-Pryce wants to solidify her legacy for as long as she can. In the interview, the athlete stated that she still feels good and hungry about running. The Jamaican sprinter added that she feels obliged for what she has achieved over the years and also feels proud of her “body of work”.

Fraser-Pryce expressed that at the stage where she is now, she is focusing on creating an impact on female and male athletes. The “Pocket Rocket” wants to tell them that “you can do it if you really have that conviction.” Shelly related, that every morning, she feels rejuvenated about training and desires to chase more milestones. She not only wants to inspire the younger athletes but also herself. Saying this, the eight-time Olympics medallist stated that looking at her fitness and zeal her coach tells her every day, “you’re 36, right?”

Shelly feels that retirement at 36 is not a conversation today in the athletic world. However, she believes that the industry needs to talk more about ageism to detect its misconceptions. She told in the interview, “I hate the fact that a basketball player or football player can play sport at 40, a NASCAR driver or Formula One is 42 and 50 and he gets to continue. But why can’t I can’t, I can’t continue. It’s my job.”

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Furthermore, Shelly added that as long as she feels healthy, she is going to show up at the sport and continue rewriting the history books. Indeed the 36-year-old has been inspiring the world with her performances. In fact, on May 8, Shelly was awarded the Sportswoman of the Year by the Laureus World Sports Award. With her startling performances, the world would love to see more of the athlete.

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