Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s 295 Days Break Echoes Debatable Track & Field Mistake for Paris Olympics

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce aimed for a strong start to her season at the JAAA Olympic French meet on June 15th. She secured first place in the 100m race with a time of 11.16 seconds, followed by Jordean Williams at 11.20 seconds and Sabrina Dockery at 11.46 seconds. Despite her victory, this time fell short of her personal best, with Fraser-Pryce’s fastest recorded at 10.60 seconds in 2021. This race marked her return to competition after nearly 10 months since the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, where she clocked 10.77 seconds to secure the bronze medal.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s comeback race occurred just 12 days before Jamaica’s Olympic trials, set for June 27-30. This timing adds doubt to her performance as she aims to secure a spot in the upcoming Olympic Games. To qualify for the Olympic squad, Fraser-Pryce must finish among the top three at the national trials. However, some question whether her delayed season opener might present a challenge as she prepares for the Paris Olympics qualification.

A recent post on X by Raem Taje TV shared a reel of today’s race. In the video, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is seen giving her best effort at the start. Despite ultimately winning, the user captioned the post, “Man this wasn’t no race 🤣! This Shelly working a reaction and coasting 99 meters.“The user thinks Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce wasn’t putting in a full effort during the race. They humorously suggest that she was just practicing her reaction time at the start and then took it easy for the rest of the race (the remaining 99 meters).

In this race, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was seen with her knee taped up extensively, likely using the tape for support, pain management, or injury prevention. Since 2016, Fraser-Pryce has grappled with a series of injuries, including a toe injury that compromised her performance at the Olympic Games that year, resulting in a third-place finish. Despite her intentions to participate in more races leading up to the 2024 Olympics, she has been unable to compete until now, prompting speculation about the lingering effects of her previous injury.

It seems Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce took a risk by racing just before the Olympics. Looking at her career, she is ranked third in the world with a record of 10.60 seconds, while Elaine Thompson-Herah is ranked second with 10.54 seconds. Florence Griffith-Joyner (Flo Jo) holds the ultimate record at 10.45 seconds. Both Shelly-Ann and Elaine are Jamaica’s hopes for the Paris Olympics.

But with Elaine currently injured, there’s concern about the Jamaican team’s prospects. Will Shelly-Ann’s current speed be enough for her to secure a win in Paris? What will happen to the Jamaican team if Elaine isn’t able to compete? These questions highlight the uncertainty and pressure facing Jamaica’s top sprinters as they prepare for the Olympics. But what can be the reason that she didn’t take part in any race till now? Is it the motherhood?

Are Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s priorities shifting?

In 2019, Fraser-Pryce made a comeback to the track after a two-year hiatus following the birth of her son, Zyon. She marked her return with a strong performance in Doha, continuing her success by winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Similarly, American Allyson Felix made history at the 2019 World Championships by claiming two relay golds in Doha. However, the year before proved to be transformative when she gave birth to her daughter Camryn by emergency Caesarean because of pre-eclampsia. While Felix saw motherhood as a continuation of her career, Fraser-Pryce had always planned to prioritize family after athletics. So, that can be a reason for Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s delay in opening the season.

Just 3 days ago, Shelly shared a heartwarming post on Instagram featuring her son having fun with him, emphasizing how “raising son now takes priority over competition.” However, this hasn’t held the athlete back from maintaining her position at the top of her game, as seen in her other posts on Instagram, where she continues to showcase her dedication to her sport. However, earlier this year, she revealed her plans to retire after the Paris Olympics to spend more time with her husband and  Zyon. But what will happen before Paris?

While looking at Elaine, she was injured during the NYC Grand Prix on June 9th. Even though she is seeking medical assistance from Dr. Müller-Wohlfahrt, known for aiding elite athletes like Usain Bolt. The question remains: will she recover in time for the Jamaican trials? Currently, Jamaica’s future seems uncertain, but if both Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelly-Ann show their true selves, they undoubtedly have the potential to secure their spots in the Olympics.