What Rule Change Led to Sha’Carri Richardson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s Late Entry at Paris Olympics?

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Sha’Carri Richardson faced a setback even before they set foot on the tracks for the 100m semi-final! According to footage surfacing on the internet, it was initially Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce trying to come through to her designated warm-up area. In a shocking turn of events, the Jamaican athlete was denied entry by the security guards present at the venue. 

They informed the Jamaican sprinter to go around and enter the venue through a different gate. According to reports, this happened due to a change of rules that was unfortunately not communicated with the athletes. Reactions from Fraser-Pryce also revealed that the athletes have been using the same gate to enter the area in the past. Talking to the officials, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce looked significantly dissatisfied with the entire fiasco. But what might have led to such a situation?

 From Shelly Ann’s arguments, it seemed, she was asked to do that since she opted to stay out of the Olympic village. Therefore came there with her own vehicle. “So you’re asking all the athletes who, for whatever reason, don’t stand at the Village, then they can’t come to the gate?” she was heard saying. A few moments later, the same situation transpired with Sha’Carri Richardson.

 As seen in a YouTube clip, Richardson too got held by the security and was asked to access a different gate to make her entry. Notably, she also appeared there in her own vehicle. Meanwhile, one more reason came up. Sha’Carri was even seen sitting on the curb while waiting.

Tiara Williams, host of the popular talk show “Real Talk With Tee” stated on her X that the gate rules were changed overnight after an official got hit by one of the buses. As soon as these two incidents came to light, the internet was up in arms. However, A Paris 2024 spokesperson kept it quite simple.

According to their statement, quote by LADbible: “In reference to videos circulating online, Paris 2024 can confirm that some athletes tried to enter the warm-up track at Stade de France on 03 August through the wrong gate. They were redirected to the correct entrance and were able to access the venue.” Jamaican Chef de Mission Ian Kelly also told to Reuters it was not a major incident.

“Mrs Fraser-Pryce was allowed to enter the warm-up track but from another gate from which she was directed to enter from. There is no truth that she was not allowed to enter the stadium,” Kelly stated.

Moreover, if this incident was not shocking enough, after the start of the women’s 100m semi-final, the fourth lane was found to be empty. This was a shocker, as the lane belonged to none other than Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. She was a frontrunner to win the 100m gold in Paris. She had earlier announced that Paris would be the last time Fraser-Pryce would don her sprinting boots. Later on, it was reported that she pulled out because of a hamstring injury during warm-up.  

Another update from an X account, ‘Raes Take TV,’ shared a screenshot where it was claimed that the Jamaican withdrew because she was not allowed to warm up and, hence, did not want to risk an injury. It also claimed that even Sha’Carri ran in the semis without any warmup. But amidst the absence of Fraser-Pryce, the women’s 100m race was no less dramatic. 

Julien Alfred topples Sha’Carri Richardson to script history

The absence of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was a big relief for Sha’Carri Richardson to power through. Running in the second semi-final, hot favorite Richardson shockingly fell short of a first-place finish. Clocking a time of 9.89s, the American athlete came second to a raging Julien Alfred, who whizzed past in just 10.84s. Alfred’s stellar form continued in the finals as well.

Clocking 10.72 in the final race, Alfred not only defeated Sha’Carri but also took home St. Lucia’s first Olympic medal of any color. Notably, she defeated Sha’Carri by a margin of .15 seconds, which is the biggest in the Olympic 100m race since 2008. Despite missing the top position, do you know that the American women had their time for the record book?

It was because of Melissa Jefferson who finished top in her division with a timing of 10.99s on her way to the final. She claimed the bronze behind Alfred and Sha’Carri clocking 10.92. 

In the other semifinal, Daryl Neita was overtaken by Jamaica’s Tia Clayton, who clocked an identical 9.89s to Sha’Carri Richardson to clinch pole position in the third semifinal. Neita, on the other hand, finished second with 10.97s. This marked the first occasion when American runners won two medals in the event since Atlanta 1996.