The sanction was handed down on Friday after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) appeal against the decision from FINA, the international swimming federation, to clear Sun of wrongdoing over allegations stemming from a visit to his home by out-of-competition testers in September 2018.
CAS determined the 28-year-old violated rules relating to "tampering with any part of doping control" and imposed the maximum sentence requested by WADA.
Crystal Palace's Jean-Phillipe Mateta headed in from a cross from his former club-mate Michael Olise five minutes in, and that ultimately proved enough for Thierry Henry's men to progress.
VAR disallowed France a second late on, but Argentina could not make their fortune count before tempers boiled over between the players at the final whistle.
Argentina came out on top in the 2022 World Cup final between these great footballing nations, and there were an equal amount of thrills and spills this time around.
Mateta's early goal set the tone for a dominant display from Les Bleus in the first half, with Enzo Millot going close before Geronimo Rulli denied France's goalscorer a second.
While Giuliano Simeone should have done better before the break, it was a similar story in the second half as Mateta again met an Olise corner, but this time his header went just over.
Olise seemed to have capped off a virtuous display with a goal of his own 10 minutes from time, but VAR disallowed the goal for a foul in the build-up.
Loic Bade struck the woodwork just after, and Claudio Echeverri - just on as a substitute - may have made France pay had he kept his composure with the goal gaping, only to slice over as Les Bleus held on to set up a semi-final against Egypt, who beat Paraguay 5-4 on penalties.
Data Debrief: France's Palace connection
Two players who starred at Selhurst Park last season were the main men in Bordeaux on Friday.
He was a constant threat, taking the most shots for France (three) and contributing 0.35 of their 0.97 expected goals (xG), while also having the joint-most touches inside the box (four, level with Olise).
Olise shone in a central role behind his former team-mate, creating three chances, the joint-most of any player in the match.
Les Bleus made it two wins from two thanks to the right-back's header, though they rode their luck against a spirited Guinea side, who had two first-half goals disallowed.
Amadou Diawara forced Guillaume Restes into a superb fingertip save just minutes into the tie before Jean-Philippe Mateta wasted a hat-trick of chances to put the hosts ahead.
A cheeky backheel dribbled wide, and a thumping header missed the target on either side of Soumaila Sylla's smothering save.
Naby Keita clinically picked out the bottom corner from an offside position just before half-time, with Abdoulaye Toure also seeing a goal ruled out moments later after meeting a free-kick.
France came to life in the second half and gave a warning sign when Loic Bade struck the post from a tight angle.
In the end, Sildillia proved the difference as he was left unmarked to meet Michael Olise's cross, and Sylla could not get to his thumping header.
France are through to the next round, and top Group A with six points, while Guinea sit bottom of the group having lost both of their matches so far.
Data Debrief: Les Bleus leave it late
For much of the first half in this game, France were sluggish and could have easily gone into half-time 2-0 down if it was not for two tight offside calls.
In the end, Thierry Henry's side showed their quality, with Olise proving the key man. He created six chances, more than anyone else on the pitch, with one of those resulting in an assist.
It is the first time France have reached the quarter-finals at the Olympics since 1996, as they looked to end a 40-year wait for a gold medal in the event.
There has been plenty of excitement around the home nation heading into the men's Olympic tournament, with coach Thierry Henry selecting a strong squad even with superstars like Kylian Mbappe absent.
Yet it took more than an hour for the match in Marseille to spark into life, and even then France were reliant on a moment of magic from captain Alexandre Lacazette.
The United States were the better side up until Lacazette's breakthrough goal, with Djordje Mihailovic thundering against the crossbar shortly before the veteran striker went up the other end and picked out the bottom-left corner.
A frantic spell followed in which France twice could have been pegged back, grateful first to Guillaume Restes for a superb save from Paxten Aaronson and then to the goal frame as John Tolkin headed against the post.
Instead, a second goal against the run of play settled the nerves in the stands as Bayern Munich new boy Michael Olise curled a fine finish around Patrick Schulte from outside the box.
And Loic Bade added further gloss with a header from a Joris Chotard corner five minutes from time, while Griffin Yow saw a late consolation goal struck off for offside.
Data Debrief: Belated home comfort for Les Bleus
On paper, the gulf between the two teams was evident in the scoreline, but for those home fans in Marseille who grew audibly agitated early in the second half, this was far from easy viewing.
Although France finished with three goals, they only created chances worth 0.43 expected goals (xG). The strikes by Lacazette and Olise were inspired individual efforts rather than the result of fine team play.
Winning gold as the hosts is not easy in this event – only four nations (Great Britain in 1908, Belgium in 1920, Spain in 1992 and Brazil in 2016) have done so previously in 27 attempts – but more will be expected of Henry's outfit going forward.
Mahmoud Saber's goal looked to be sending Egypt through, but Mateta and Michael Olise ensured that would not happen with help from Omar Fayed's sending off in extra time.
Despite Egypt slightly edging the first half, the hosts almost took the lead when Loic Bade's header struck the foot of the post just before half-time.
On the hour mark, Alexandre Lacazette squandered a glorious chance, and just moments later Shehata profited at the other end, rifling his powerful effort into the roof of the net.
France rallied soon after, with Lacazette and Bade hitting the woodwork in quick succession before Hamza Alaa made two brilliant saves to keep out the Les Bleus' captain.
The hosts' pressure finally paid off in the 83rd minute though – Olise raced through midfield before picking out his former Crystal Palace team-mate Mateta, who fired them level.
A lengthy VAR check deep in second-half stoppage time then proved fruitless as the referee stuck with the onfield decision to now award a penalty to France for a handball by Omar Fayed, who received a booking for dissent.
His game then went from bad to worse as he received his marching orders two minutes into extra time for a late tackle on Desire Doue.
Mateta thumped France in front with a close-range free header seven minutes later, and Olise made sure of their progress in the 108th minute, curling a low shot past Alaa before he could react.
Data Debrief: Les Bleus march on
At one point, Thierry Henry had his head in his hands as France wasted chance after chance in front of goal. In the first half they only created an expected goals (xG) of 0.2, but improved that to 2.33 from 17 shots in the second as Egypt eventually caved to the onslaught.
Mateta proved the difference-maker once more, having scored the goal to send them into the semi-finals, he added two more to his tally.
France will play in the final at the Olympics for the first time in 40 years, and they will face Spain in the gold-medal match on Friday.
Three goals in 10 first-half minutes – two from Fermin Lopez and the other from Alex Baena – appeared to take the final away from Thierry Henry's hosts, who had led early on through Enzo Millot.
However, Maghnes Akliouche teed up a grandstand finish at the Parc des Princes, then Benat Turrientes' foul allowed Jean-Phillipe Mateta to force extra time with a 93rd-minute penalty.
Both teams threw caution to the wind in the additional period, but Camello was the hero, producing a wonderful lob and a breakaway second to secure gold for Spain.
The hosts took the lead with the very first attempt of the game as Millot pounced on a loose clearance to fire goalwards from the right side of the area. Spain goalkeeper Arnau Tenas seemed to misjudge the flight of the ball, palming it into the bottom-left corner.
However, Spain soon hit back through Barcelona youngster Lopez, who swept his finish into the bottom-left corner after being found in the middle of the area by Baena.
Buoyed by that strike, Spain built a two-goal lead within 10 further minutes. Lopez pounced for his second when Guillaume Restes could only parry Abel Ruiz's shot to put them 2-1 up, then Baena added the pick of the goals.
Lining up a free-kick just to the left of the D, the Villarreal man gave Restes no chance by whipping a sensational effort over the wall and into the top-left corner.
Manu Kone missed a great chance to cut Spain's lead when he nodded against the crossbar after the break, but Les Bleus' hopes were rekindled with 11 minutes to play as Michael Olise's free-kick was steered into the far corner by Akliouche.
There was more drama in stoppage time, with Turrientes clumsily dragging Arnaud Kalimuendo down from a corner. Mateta kept his nerve from the spot to level, though Turrientes almost redeemed himself with a dream winner when his shot clipped the crossbar at the other end.
France continued to press in extra time, but they were caught out in the 100th minute as Camello latched onto Adrian Bernabe's pass before sitting Restes down with a delicate chipped finish.
Camello was not done there, latching onto a long throw from Tenas as France threw players forward in stoppage time, before making sure of the gold by finishing past Restes.
Data Debrief: Roja end 32-year Olympic wait
Since an iconic Spain team featuring the likes of Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique won gold on home soil at Barcelona 1992, La Roja have been reduced to the role of nearly men at the Games.
They were losing finalists at Syndey 2000 (versus Cameroon) and Tokyo 2020 (against Brazil), but they got over the line this time around, even if they had to go the distance.
With the senior squad winning a record-breaking fourth European crown last month and the under-23s claiming gold in Paris, it looks like this era of Spanish success could go on for some time yet.
Yabusele, who plays his domestic basketball with Real Madrid in Spain, top scored with 17 points to lead the hosts, who were silver medallists in Tokyo three years ago, to another final.
Isaia Cordinier added 16 points to France's total, while San Antonio Spurs star and NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama had 11 points and seven rebounds.
Dennis Schroder led for Germany with 18 points, with Fritz Wagner the only other player to reach double figures against the Olympic hosts.
Germany's loss brought an end to their incredible recent run stretching back to last year's World Cup, having won 12 consecutive games in major international competitions.
France will now face either the United States or Serbia in Saturday's final, with LeBron James and company hoping to win Team USA's 17th gold in men's basketball.
Thierry Henry's side remain the only side in the tournament to win all of their games so far, and made light work of their opponents on Tuesday.
Jean-Philippe Mateta, who captained the side with Alexandre Lacazette on the bench, started off the scoring after the ball bundled its way into his path before finishing beyond Alex Paulsen in the 19th minute.
In a game that saw Les Bleus accumulate 34 shots at the Orange Velodrome, their dominance was rewarded with two quickfire goals late on.
Desire Doue would double the hosts' advantage from close range, with Arnaud Kalimuendo rounding off the scoring three minutes later to see France remain perfect.
France's triumph saw them win their first three games at the Games for the first time in their history, while also keeping three clean sheets on the spin for the first time at the Olympics.
In the other Group A encounter, the United States qualified for the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time since 2000 as they eased to a 3-0 win over Guinea.
A rampant start to the encounter saw Djordje Mihailovic and Kevin Paredes have Marko Mitrovic's two goals to the good just after the half-hour mark.
Despite finishing the encounter with just 37.8% possession, the United States were clinical in the final third as Paredes put the game beyond doubt in the 75th minute.
They return to action this Friday when they face Group B winners Morocco, who clinched top spot with a 3-0 win over Iraq while also finishing ahead of Argentina.
Canada were unbeaten coming into this game after a strong showing in the competition so far, but had no answers against the hosts and their raucous home support.
Canada's game plan limited Victor Wembanyama to a supporting role as he scored just seven points, but that allowed Guerschon Yabusele and Isaia Cordinier to shine as they scored 22 and 20 points respectively.
France made a strong start, storming into a 19-point lead at the start of the second half, though Canada clawed themselves back to within five points with only four minutes remaining - Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led them with 27 points.
The comeback soon stalled though, as Evan Fournier put together seven quick points to send France cruising into the next round as they aim to better their silver medal from the Tokyo Olympics.
They will face Germany for a chance to play in the gold-medal match, while Canada have now failed to make it to the final four at the Olympics since 1984.
Henry has led France to a first final at the Games since their win against Brazil in 1984, a time when he was preparing for his first senior season with Monaco's reserves.
Les Bleus entered the competition with one of the strongest teams on paper, but Henry faced a difficult task in assembling his squad.
The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Bradley Barcola and Warren Zaire-Emery were refused permission to compete in the Games by their clubs.
However, Henry was quick to praise his group of players that have taken part in the tournament, saying his dream has already come true.
"This event is special because (in our sport) you don't think about finishing second or third, or winning a medal," Henry said.
"So our story is a success - let's make it better.
While Henry has the opportunity to add an Olympic medal to his World Cup and European Championship successes as a player, he was keen to look at the bigger picture.
"Did I ever think I would be part of an Olympic team? Never. I'll tell you why it's different for me," Henry said.
"I was never with my family watching me performing. When I say performing, you understand what I mean, obviously I'm not performing on the field anymore.
"But I never had my kids at a stadium looking at me with my team, being an 'actor', because when I had my kids I was almost at the end of my career.
"Maybe that's what was missing."
The 27-year-old was diagnosed with a torn ACL on Friday and will now only take part in the Athletics Gymnastics Uneven Bars event at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Even so, the gymnast will not be able to fully compete as she will be unable to do a dismount routine.
“I hope to do some sort of bar routine just to get a score on the board but without a dismount, it won’t be a competitive score, but I’ll be happy to see Jamaica represented at the Olympic Games and I still feel very proud to be wearing the Jamaican flag,” Francis told the press.
“The knee, I think, is getting worse and worse, so I can’t really tell you the exact time when the ligament damage occurred, but I found out today what it actually was and it will drastically affect my competition, unfortunately.”
The Artistic Gymnastics competition is set to start tomorrow with the Uneven Bars finals for women taking place on Sunday. The athlete will miss out on competing on the Balance Beam, Floor Exercise, and Vault.
The gymnast admits the injury had come as a huge blow.
“I’m really upset to have hurt myself. I have been so prepared for this competition mentally and physically up to this point so to, at the last hurdle, be injured is disappointing. Luckily, the medics have taken really good care of me and I’m sure they will continue to do so.”
The 32-year-old created history at the last edition of the event in Doha, where she became the first woman to win four 100m world titles. Fraser-Pryce has captured the world title at the Berlin (2009), Moscow (2013), Beijing (2015) and Doha (2018) World Championships.
Even though it is the Tokyo Olympics that is on the immediate horizon, the diminutive sprinter admits it is hard not to try and take a peek a little further ahead, an event that is likely to be her last major games appearance.
“After Tokyo, I am the defending champion at the world championships in Eugene and that is so close to home,” Fraser-Pryce told the AFP.
“It’s a few hours [flight] from Jamaica and to be able to end a career close to home, where I can have most, if not all, of my family in attendance, would be the highlight of my career,” she added.
“I am taking it a year at a time. After Tokyo, I can make that decision.”
There was a national outcry for Campbell-Brown to replace the greenhorn from the MVP Track Club. Surely, she would not be able to go to Beijing and do better than Campbell-Brown, the seasoned campaigner who won gold over 200m in Athens four years before and the 100m title in Osaka in 2007.
Stung by the naysayers calling for her head Fraser silenced them by becoming the first Jamaican woman to win an Olympic 100m title as Jamaica finished 1-2-2 in the finals. She would go on to win another Olympic 100m title four years later in London and just last year won an unprecedented fourth 100m title in Doha in 2019.
A 200m World title and an Olympic 200m silver medal have cemented her a legacy as arguably Jamaica’s greatest female sprinter and one of the best of all time.
She now says that she forgives those naysayers because she understands why they did.
"I’m not gonna say I blame them. I cannot because at the time Veronica was a sure thing,” Fraser-Pryce said during an interview with Yendi Phillips on her YouTube show Odyssey, Untold Journeys with Yendi.
“Looking back now I cannot say I would have sit down in my days and be at home and somebody say ‘Veronica naw run’ and me would a probably take that. Me woulda say ‘No, mi waan Veronica run,” said the four-time 100m World Champion.
“I remember watching that Olympics, 2004 Olympics, at home. Veronica was the standard. So I cannot imagine that they would have said anything different and I understand.
I have forgiven all of that. I have moved on because I understand that while it shouldn’t have happened based on the rules, I understand where everybody was coming from and I think at the end of the day, I’m glad that I was able to open the doors for younger athletes to understand that anything that you set out to achieve, your age, it don’t matter. When you’re ready, you show up, and you go out there and you go after it.”
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, a three-time Olympic and 10-time world champion, serves as a constant source of motivation for Ta Lou. She reveals that the soon-to-be 37-year-old Jamaican icon is among the main reasons she plans to show up in Paris next year.
"She is constantly reminding me that she is older than me and she is still going strong. Her words are loud in my head every single day and she never gets exhausted of motivating me to wake every morning and do what I like,” the Ivorian speedster said. “Shelly-Ann is one of the many reasons you will see me in Paris for what could be my last Olympic Games."
While her love for the track spans a decade, Ta Lou acknowledges that her calling in athletics is greater than merely amassing medals.
Ta Lou, who achieved an African record time of 10.72 seconds during the 2022 Monaco Diamond League, making her the sixth-fastest woman of all time, has faced the heartache of coming agonizingly close to the podium at major championships. This season, she concluded the World Athletics Championships in Budapest with a fourth-place finish, a result that still stings.
"I wanted to get a medal but finished fourth. I have been in a situation where I have been crying alone in my room," Ta Lou reveals in an interview with the BBC. "The support I received from fans across the world and my fellow competitors has been my saving grace."
While Ta Lou is no stranger to narrowly missing out on top honors in athletics, she understands the profound impact she can have beyond the podium. She believes her calling extends to inspiring others to persevere and overcome the fear of failure.
"Sometimes I feel like my calling is different and way bigger than always being on the podium," she states. "It's about the hope I give to people to keep trying and about the legacy that I want to leave behind. I know there are people beyond athletics who see themselves through me in their daily struggles."
Ta Lou emphasizes that winning is not solely about crossing the finish line first but rather about the impact an athlete can have on people's lives. She aspires to be a beacon of the never-give-up spirit, encouraging others to pursue their dreams relentlessly.
Her journey has been marked by challenges, but Ta Lou maintains a positive outlook. She acknowledges the role of faith in her resilience, stating, "My strength comes from God," and sharing how quiet moments of meditation and prayer provide her with the vigor to persevere.
Despite moments of doubt and contemplating giving up, Ta Lou's motivation stems from the desire to make her mother proud, represent Africa, and inspire young girls on the continent to pursue their dreams. She sees herself as a source of light and hope for those facing complex challenges.
In late September, after a season during which she overcame knee and hamstring injuries to win a bronze medal in the 100m at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, to go along with the 10 gold and five silver medals she has won in eight championship appearances since 2007, Fraser-Pryce, at the invitation of Bottega Veneta Creative Director Matthieu Blazy, took a trip to Milan to lose herself in the world of fashion as she continued to heal from the rigours of a challenging season and enjoyed it immensely.
She revealed it was an eye-opening experience.
“I am going there and I am thinking that this thing is going be like an Olympics where everybody comes with their different fashions and then they showcase it at the event. I didn’t know everybody had like a day to themselves. And people made it like a thing where you had persons that flew to Milan just to dress up, go on the street and take pictures.
“So, it was definitely something different from what I am used to in terms of track but it was a good experience. I saw some fashion that were ‘nice, love it’. Wear it? Maybe, maybe not,” she said with a giggle. “But it was a good experience. I loved the fact that I was invited by Bottega, by Matthieu and his team and I am looking forward to doing more of those events.”
During the course of her illustrious career, Fraser-Pryce has become known for her ever-evolving style. Her wigs and outfits have raised eyebrows and won the approval of her many fans. Few will forget her colourful wigs that have accentuated her outstanding performances at global championships over the past few years as well as her keen sense of style off the track while attending local and international engagements.
So it was not really much a surprise to hear the two-time Olympic 100m gold medallist reveal that fashion is something she could get into when her medal-filled career draws to a close.
“I think for me style is unique. Style is something that is personal and unique to you, some definitely that is something that I would tap into. It is never too late to start something. It may not be a thing when you’re younger but as you get older you like different things. The older I get I like silence or you like plants, so yes, I am looking forward to doing more of those things and I am grateful to Bottega for the outpouring and love and support that they gave me. I was shocked when I got the invitation.
“But when I got there I was in the front row, met some lovely people and I think I actually met a Jamaican model who walked in the show as well so it was awesome.”
The shirts will feature Fraser-Pryce’s signature as well as the Olympic rings on the sleeve. Donors will also receive a mask signed by Fraser-Pryce and a Pocket Rocket pin.
Fraser-Pryce, who lowered her 100m personal best to 10.60 this season, says all proceeds will go towards the Pocket Rocket Foundation.
The nine-time World Championships gold medallist reminded potential Visa donors that their contributions are for a good cause.
“I know you guys are eager to grab the shirts but please be reminded that this will go towards the Pocket Rocket Foundation and your support means the world to us and all our student-athletes, the ones who are still here and the ones who are coming for the future,” she said.
This branded shirts venture is the latest in a number of initiatives Fraser-Pryce has undertaken to raise funds for the foundation. Last month, she was the guest of honour at an auction held at the Miramar Cultural Centre in Florida.
During a media session with media, earlier today on the eve of her Diamond League 100m race in Doha on Friday, the two-time Olympic 100m champion and four-time World Champion was asked what she hopes to get out of the Olympic Games.
“Having been on the podium so many times, if I am honest, I am really looking forward to being on the podium, which is good for me, but I think this time around I am looking forward to running below 10.70. That is definitely a big dream and something that I am working hard towards,” she said.
“To have both (medal and time) would definitely be a blessing, but if you ask me which one I would rank higher I would definitely say I want to run 10.6 or even faster. That is definitely what I want but to have the combination would be good so I am working towards the combination as well.”
Chasing times, she explained, would not be detrimental to her goals of bettering her personal best (10.70), a national record that she shares with double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, because she believes the quality of her competitors will help her achieve the time she seeks as well as medals.
“The harder the competitions are the better I am at performing,” said Fraser-Pryce, who has run some of her fastest time in the finals of global competitions.
“I like a challenge, I like when the competition is hot because, at the end of the day, that is what the Diamond League is about as well because when you are at a Diamond League you know the field is going to be good and it’s going to be solid,” she said.
“When you’re in a race and you’re the sole competitor that is doing well, the pressure is not there as if you if have competitors that are doing exceptionally well just like you, so for me, I think the bigger the field is the bigger I perform because I love the opportunity to rise and I think those are the opportunities I get when I compete in a field that’s stacked.”
The news broke minutes before the highly anticipated race, which included medal favourites, Julien Alfred, the eventual gold medal winner and World Champion Sha'Carri Richardson, who won silver. While unconfirmed reports suggest Fraser-Pryce sustained an injury during her warm-up, the exact details remain unclear.
The 37-year-old Fraser-Pryce, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 100m from the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Games, has had an illustrious career marked by consistency and excellence. She is the only woman in history to win medals in the 100m at four consecutive Olympic Games, a testament to her enduring talent and determination.
In what was set to be her final Olympic 100m appearance, Fraser-Pryce's withdrawal was a significant blow to her fans and supporters worldwide. However, in a heartfelt statement, she expressed her deep gratitude to those who have supported her throughout her remarkable career.
"It is difficult for me to find the words to even describe the depth of my disappointment. I know that my supporters share and shoulder this disappointment with me. I am truly Blessed to have had the steadfast support of my fans since my Olympic debut in 2008,” she said.
“The support of my fans, my country, and the larger community has rooted me in immense gratitude that has sustained me over the course of my career. With every step, with every win, you all have been there for me. My Faith has always affirmed me to trust my journey. Thank you for continuing to be with me today and every day."
Fraser-Pryce's statement reflects her profound appreciation for the support she has received from her fans, her country, and the global athletics community. Her career, marked by numerous accolades and groundbreaking achievements, has inspired countless individuals and cemented her legacy as one of the greatest sprinters of all time.
In addition to her two Olympic gold medals, Fraser-Pryce's illustrious career includes five 100m World Championship titles and a 200m title, as well as a silver medal in the 200m at the London 2012 Olympics and a 200m silver at the World Championships in Oregon in 2022. Her accomplishments on the world stage have solidified her status as a true icon in the sport of track and field.
As the athletics world comes to terms with the end of Fraser-Pryce's Olympic career, her words serve as a reminder of the challenges and unpredictability inherent in sports. Her journey, characterized by resilience and faith, continues to inspire, and her legacy will undoubtedly endure, regardless of the outcome of a single race.
While her quest for a fifth Olympic 100m medal may have ended prematurely, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's impact on the sport and her indomitable spirit remains as powerful as ever.
The 10.70 personal best that she set on June 29, 2012, still stands as the Jamaican national record but that she now shares with teammate and rival Elaine Thompson-Herah, who equaled the record in July 2016. Only three women have run faster – Florence Griffith-Joyner (10.49), Marion Jones (10.65) and Carmelita Jeter (10.64).
The three Americans have run faster but would give up those times to accomplish with the diminutive Jamaican had achieved over the past decade. However, she is desperate to join that pantheon of four.
Fraser-Pryce has won two Olympic gold medals, nine at the World Championships. She has also run faster than 10.80 seconds 15 times, more than any other woman in history, but that is not enough for the Pocket Rocket who is intent on building on her significant legacy as arguably the greatest ever female 100m sprinter.
“There is still breaking this ’10.70’ barrier. It is a big challenge for me and that’s one thing,” she said in a recent interview on the Olympic channel. “That’s the goal for next year.
“Yes, I want to stand on the podium for sure but I think also if I can run fast and do it, then yeah. I really want to run 10.6 or even 10.5 and I want to break the 22-second barrier for the 200m and run 21.”
Fraser-Pryce's 200m best of 22.09 was set while winning the silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
Peters, who at 23, is already a two-time NCAA champion, Pan American champion, NACAC champion and World Champion, wants an Olympic title to add to his burgeoning trophy case. However, had the Olympics been held in 2020 as scheduled, he might have had to wait until 2024.
During his preparation for the 2019 World Championships in Doha, the Grenadian injured his knee in training and was forced to battle through the discomfort to pull off the surprise win in Doha. He told Sportsmax.TV that immediately following the World Championships, an MRI on his knee revealed the extent of the damage.
“I had bone splinters around the knee and some were even poking into the muscles surrounding my knee,” he said.
He underwent corrective surgery on October 17, 2019, and says he is now fully recovered.
“Training is going good,” said Peters who trains at Mississippi State University under Coach Paul Phillips.
“I have been putting up numbers that I never have before. I am stronger but the task is now on me and my coach to transition that strength into my throws."
Without the postponement of the Olympic Games, he said, he would not have had enough time to recover from the surgery. Now that he has, he is looking forward to competing against the likes of Johannes Vetter, the 2017 world champion, who threw an incredible 97.76m, the second-longest throw in history in Poland in September 2020.
Peters, who has a personal best of 87.31m, says he has no fear of Vetter or the other elite throwers of the world because in every competition it comes down to one basic thing.
“It’s all about the day. From the first throw you know what is going to be like,” he said. So, it's all about what happens on that day."
