Track and field is just more than a sport in Jamaica. It holds a lot of emotions for the people, as they just adore it, owing to the accolades their athletes have brought, especially the GOAT Usain Bolt. This list also has the name of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who has been competing in the sport since 2007 professionally at the senior level and has stunned many people with her talent.

Mommy Rocket has also faced her fair share of criticism since the early days of her track and field career but has always shut down these critics with her performances. Recently, she also made a coaching change, adding to the frenzy. Furthermore, she has shared her thoughts on a common question she has faced throughout her career until the most recent event and how this particular question keeps her more determined to push forward.

Doubts over Mommy Rocket

For any emerging track and field athlete, getting stormed by criticism is normal. Even legends like Usain Bolt have faced them in their stellar careers, but it’s on the athlete how they manage to defy all odds and prove themselves on the track. Fraser-Pryce, who has been on the Olympic stage for Jamaica five times in her career, has also faced a ton of questions despite most of the time being on the top step of a podium.

On Netflix’s Sprint Season 2 Episode 2, the Jamaican sprinter shared a candid insight, stating, “When I made the Olympic Team at 21, they were like, ‘She’s too young!’ And now a lot of persons say I’m too old. That makes me more determined.” The sport has seen many young talents emerge from a nation’s junior category, but a few of them manage to thrive under the pressure and prove the doubters wrong every season.

Was Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce prone to these challenges? Yes, she was, as the sprinter participated in her career’s first Olympic Games back in 2008, just a year after she made it to the senior level of athletics. While there were a ton of responsibilities on her shoulders, Fraser-Pryce overcame all odds and secured her gold medal in the same year. This was a statement to her critics, and she kept on doing this for many years.

Age is surely a big factor when it comes to an athlete, but maintaining performance throughout all the pressure is what makes the big difference. Whenever the critics included the age of the Jamaican as a determining factor, she became more focused and resolute with her sprinting, and the statistics prove this. Currently, the athlete is 37 years old, but she hasn’t stopped chasing her dreams and recently underwent a coaching change.

A big change for Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

A few months after a disastrous Olympic campaign in Paris, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce made a bold decision in her career. It was time for her to say goodbye to her coach Reynaldo Walcott and the Elite Performance Track Club. She has remained with them since 2020 and earned a lot of accolades. However, much discord happened between the two that led to the drift in the relationship.

So, who’s her new coach? From the 2025 season, Fraser-Pryce will be training under the wing of Andre Wellington. Previously, the Jamaican sprinter decided to retire from professional sprinting after the Paris Olympics, but the journey didn’t have a fairytale ending. So there might be a change of mind for the athlete. Fraser-Pryce deserves all the flowers because of her accolades, and even if she turns 38 next year, she may have more incredible feats to put on.