Lucky fan relishes chance encounter with five-time world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

By Sports Desk November 06, 2022
Keithi Cunningham is all smiles after a chance encounter with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Keithi Cunningham is all smiles after a chance encounter with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Contributed

Keithi Cunningham considers himself a lucky man after he unexpectedly got to meet Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, arguably the greatest female sprinter in history.

Cunningham was a winner of JMD$100,000 in a GraceKennedy Money Services (GKMS)/Western Union campaign dubbed 10 Million Reasons to Receive.

When he went to collect his winnings, it just happened to be during the visit of Fraser-Pryce, who is a GraceKennedy ambassador. The five-time world 100m champion is also a Digicel Ambassador. The chance encounter took place upon his arrival at the GK ONE Digital Store on Port Royal Street on November 2, where he went to collect the GK ONE prepaid Visa debit card on which his prize money had been placed.

“Is jus a whim mek me come down here today yuh nuh, and look who me run into? The great Shelly,” he recalled with a laugh.

Fraser-Pryce, the face of the GK ONE card congratulated Cunningham, “This is so awesome! Just like that you won $100,000! I’m so happy for you. I’m sure this came at the best time for you!”

Cunningham was overwhelmed.

“Ah now I will never stop use Western Union. Me win bout three time today alone!”

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    Reflecting on the performances against Canada, Gilbert, though admitting their shortcomings in certain areas, credited the Girlz for the fight shown, particularly in Tuesday's second-leg at a sold-out BMO Field in Toronto. 

    "I think the performance wasn't bad. We wanted to score at least one before the half-time break and we got that go-ahead goal. Unfortunately, we conceded, and I think that set us back again, but it was a good effort, and it just goes to show how much we are growing in the region and on the world stage.

    "So, I have to give the Girlz credit, they held their own in a hostile environment…yes, there were some lapses in concentration and there was an overload on the left side again and when you make certain errors you pay the price, especially against quality opposition and that's what happened last night," Gilbert reasoned.

    "I don't think the issue is only at the left back because we know what they (Canada) were doing and we should have prevented that. The Canadian team did well the way they pulled our left back out and exploited the spaces behind. But we have to give more help and support in in that area and then we also have to be a little bit more positive on that side too, so that we can push the overlap and get forward more often," he added.

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    “We are getting closer and closer because again, no one would have thought, even years gone by and probably even now, that we would have been so competitive against Canada, who are the defending Olympic champions, so let’s not forget that.”

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    The 31-year-old Dutchwoman, who won a silver medal in the 100m final behind Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce that year, has been plagued by injury over the past few years, impairing her ability to compete at the highest level.

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    She expressed gratitude to all who have supported in a career that did not quite materialize in the way she would have liked.

    “My family, my team, my fans, and my sponsors, you made it all worthwhile.”

    At her peak, Schippers was among the greatest ever short sprinters.

    She set a championship record of 21.63 in Beijing after chasing down Thompson-Herah and nipping the Jamaican, who ran a then personal best of 21.66, at the line. Veronica Campbell-Brown was third in 21.97.

    At the time, Schippers’ time was the third-fastest ever run over the half-lap sprint. Only Florence Griffith-Joyner (21.34) and Marion Jones (21.62) had run faster. The Dutchwoman had earlier run a lifetime best 10.81 to win the silver medal behind Fraser-Pryce in the 100m final.

    At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Schippers won the silver medal behind Thompson-Herah in the 200m, running a time of 21.88. She was a disappointing fifth in the 100m final due to injury. She won the 200m world title at the 2017 World Championships and was third in the 100m.

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