The 36-year-old has a personal best of 10.60 set at the Lausanne Diamond League in 2021 and is coming off a remarkable 2022 season that saw her run below 10.7 a record seven times, including a 10.67 to win her fifth World Championships gold medal in Eugene in July.
“I want to run 10.5 or 10.4. I’m working towards that, but I also don’t want it to be the end-all, be-all,” the three-time Olympic gold medallist said in an interview with NBC Sports.
“I’ll be satisfied knowing that I gave 100% towards that effort. Being able to push myself beyond something that a lot of people think is impossible has given me wings beneath my feet. I don’t want to limit myself. I want to think about potential and where I can go with that,” Fraser-Pryce added.
The Women’s 100m World Record currently stands at 10.49 set by American Florence Griffith-Joyner at the US Olympic Trials all the way back in 1988.
Since then, only Fraser-Pryce’s countrywoman, five-time Olympic gold medallist Elaine Thompson-Herah, has run below 10.6 when she clocked 10.54 to win at the Prefontaine Classic in 2021.
The 36-year-old, who won back-to-back 100m gold medals in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012, made the declaration in an interview with NBC Sports.
“Yes, 2024 will definitely be my last Olympics,” said Fraser-Pryce before going into how her foundation will become her priority once she exits the track.
“As I chase world championship and Olympic glory, the legacy that I leave off the track is important and my Pocket Rocket Foundation has been near and dear to me. We’ve been trying to expand on what we do here in Jamaica and hopefully go regional. Being able to run fast and win medals is great, but using that platform to give young people the chance to succeed and balance education with sports and transcend their own thoughts and ideas is what I’m passionate about as well,” she added.
By the time the Paris Olympics roll around, Fraser-Pryce will be 37 and aiming to become the oldest Olympic 100m gold medallist ever, male or female.
“I definitely want 2024 to be my last hurrah. I’ve accomplished so much, and I’m so, so grateful for it all. All the people that I’ve been able to touch, all the memories that I’ve made. After the Olympics I want to make different memories,” she said.
The 2024 Paris Olympics are scheduled for July 26-August 24 with Track & Field scheduled for August 1-11.
The two-time Olympic 100m champion, known for her colourful wigs and trendsetting couture, was among a galaxy of celebrities gathered for the occasion that included writer, fashion editor, and New York Times best-selling author Derek Blasberg, Erykah Badu as well as Sabato de Samo, Gucci’s new Head of Creative.
The five-time world 100m champion is still recovering from a hamstring injury sustained at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August as well as a longstanding knee injury that significantly impacted her preparation last season. But what better way is there to heal the body and soul than immersing one’s self in the world of high fashion.
On April 29th, Fraser-Pryce will open her season at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix before, two weeks later, returning to the meet where, last year, she opened her season with a blistering 10.67.
That race started a phenomenal season for the three-time Olympic champion which saw her produce a record seven times faster than 10.70 including 10.67 to win her fifth World 100m title in Eugene in July.
The 30-year-old Kambundji had a stellar year in 2022 winning the World Indoor 60m dash in a national record 6.96, a time tied with Merlene Ottey’s as the fourth-fastest in history.
She won the 200m at the European championships and was a close second in the 100m. She was fifth in the final of the 100m at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon in July where Fraser-Pryce won a record-extending fifth title.
Kambundji was also eighth in the 200m final won by Shericka Jackson. Fraser-Pryce won the silver medal.
On Monday, Switzerland’s fastest woman posted about her latest achievement.
“Sportswoman of the Year. Thank you for your support and congratulations to all the nominees.”
Shortly thereafter, the Jamaican superstar and athletics icon, fierce on the track but affable off it, replied “Congrats.”
The two will renew their rivalry in Budapest next summer when Fraser-Pryce goes after a sixth world 100m title and Kambundji makes another attempt to get onto the podium of track and field’s premier championship.
Fraser-Pryce, who won her fifth World Championship 100m gold medal in Eugene in July, sped to 10.65, her seventh sub 10.7 time this season, to win her fifth Diamond Trophy.
Teammate Shericka Jackson, who ran 10.73 to beat Fraser-Pryce in Brussels, finished second in 10.81 while The Ivory Coast’s Marie Josee Ta Lou ran 10.91 for third.
Fraser-Pryce ends her stellar season with 10 wins out of 11 races in the 100m.
2011 World 100m Champion Yohan Blake ran 10.05 to finish second in the men's equivalent behind American World Championship bronze medallist Trayvon Bromell (9.94). Canadian Aaron brown ran 10.06 for third.
Fraser-Pryce was set to compete on the European circuit for the first time since 2023 but pulled out of the race after feeling some discomfort during her warm-up.
Tuesday’s race would’ve been Fraser-Pryce’s last race before the Paris Olympics.
She has competed in only four 100m races this season with three of those coming at the Jamaican National Championships from June 27-30 where she ran 10.94 for third in the final to book her spot at the Olympics.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, however, is not normal.
The three-time Olympic Champion is coming off the best season of her career and, quite possibly, the best individual season any sprinter, male or female, has had in the history of the sport.
The Jamaican won 11 out of the 12 100m races she competed in and her times were as follows: 10.67, 10.67, 10.70, 10.87, 10.93, 10.67, 10.66, 10.67, 10.62, 10.74 and 10.65. The third 10.67 performance was done to win her fifth World Championship title at the Eugene World Championships last July where she also ran 21.81 for 200m silver.
For her exploits, the legendary sprinter was named the Laureus Sportswoman of the Year at the prestigious 2023 Laureus Sports Awards in Paris in May.
With all that in mind, why would someone want to walk away from a sport at their best because of age?
Fraser-Pryce has that same question.
“Ageism is something that we should talk about because I hate the fact that a basketball player or a football player can play sport at 40, a Nascar driver or an F1 driver is 42 or 50 and he gets to continue but why can’t I continue?” Fraser-Pryce said in an interview with Athletics Weekly.
“It’s my job and as long as I’m showing up healthy, I’m going to re-write the books and I’m excited about that,” she added.
Fraser-Pryce says she hopes to keep inspiring athletes of all generations by showing them that anyone, no matter your age, can achieve great things if they put their mind to it.
“I’m hoping that I can continue not just to inspire other athletes but myself because my coach tells me every day ‘you know you’re 36, right?’ and I’m like ‘yeah that’s crazy!’ Gone are the days where, at 36, most athletes would have been retired at home doing something else at home,” she said.
“I still feel good; I still feel hungry and it’s just amazing to see what I’ve been able to accomplish over the years and the body of work. I think, at this stage, it’s really about impact and showing female athletes, or athletes overall, what you can do if you really have that conviction, and, the things that we tell ourselves, if we continue to work at that then greatness is possible from that. For me, it’s getting up every morning feeling rejuvenated; still feeling like there is something I’m chasing that is right there and I’m almost touching it, I just need a little more push,” Fraser-Pryce added.
She is currently recovering from a knee injury she sustained just a day before she was set to open her season at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi on May 13.
Fraser-Pryce, who won her fifth world title in Eugene recently, got her usual bullet start before proceeding to step away from the field and register her fourth sub-10.7 time this season and sixth overall, more than any other woman in history. American Aleia Hobbs ran 10.94 for second while The Ivory Coast’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou was third in 11.00.
In the men’s equivalent, World Championship semi-finalist Ackeem Blake ran 10.00 for third behind Americans Trayvon Bromell (9.95) and Marvin Bracy (10.00) who won bronze and silver at the recently concluded World Championships in Eugene.
Shericka Jackson, who ran 21.45 to win gold at the World Championships and become the fastest woman alive in the event, won the 200m in 21.84 ahead of Bahamian World 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo (22.35) and American Jenna Prandini (22.39).
Meanwhile, in the Men's 400m Grenada's Kirani James ran a fast 44.55 but had to settle for the runner-up spot as Michael Norman, the 2022 World Champion, claimed victory in 44.11. Bryce Deadmon was third in 44.68.
The women's race was won by the incredible Dutch 400m hurdler Femke Bol, who clocked a personal best of 49.75, a new meet record and national record.
Poland's Natalia Kaczmarek finished second in a personal best time of 49.86. World Championships finalist Candice McLeod was third in 50.22 just ahead of compatriot Stephenie-Ann McPherson who ran 50.31 for fourth.
Her first treat was held at the Windalco Sports Complex in Ewarton a week earlier.
On Boxing Day, children at the Fesco Field, children in the Waterhouse community were treated to a mixture of toys, rides, food and face painting to name a few.
Sponsors for the treat were Nike, Digicel Jamaica, Grace Foods, XLCR Jamaica and Toyota Jamaica Limited.
“The best Birthday gift I can ever receive is having a successful Treat each year,” said Fraser-Pryce who also celebrated her 37th birthday on Wednesday.
“Nothing more, nothing less. Thank you to our amazing sponsors and volunteers,” added the three-time Olympic and 10-time World Champion.
Fraser-Pryce only competed in five 100m races in 2023 due to a nagging knee injury.
Despite those concerns, she was still able to perform when it counted with 100m bronze at the World Championships in Budapest in August.
Her time (10.77) was a season’s best in her last race of the season.
“Jamaicans have a short-term memory. You’ll do a great thing this year and come back and not have a good year and they want to beat you down to the ground,” Fraser-Pryce said to over 8,000 fans who tuned in to her Instagram live on Thursday.
There have been many instances where athletes have had a good year and, because of injuries or other troublesome circumstances, have failed to produce those performances consistently in the years after.
“It’s a whole lot they have to deal with so you have to be careful with your comments sometimes, because sometimes you make some comments and some of the athletes take them to heart and dwell on them,” Fraser-Pryce said.
“You have to big up the athletes. Every year is not the same…it’s not easy so, when you see the athletes out here representing you must know it takes a whole lot of work and they’re going to have good times and bad times,” she added.
Fraser-Pryce used her teammate and 200m gold medallist Shericka Jackson as an example. At last year’s Tokyo Olympics, Jackson failed to advance out of the heats of the 200m and, a year later, she is the world champion and fastest woman alive at the distance.
“Last year, Shericka didn’t run the 200m, and I know she cried and she came back and look, 21.45. She went back and put in the work, so you just have to understand that everything is a process and it takes time,” Fraser-Pryce said.
The 35-year-old Fraser-Pryce, now a five-time National Sportswoman of the year after wins in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2019 previously, produced an outstanding year in which she won her fifth 100m title at the World Athletics Championships in July, in Eugene, Oregon, leading a Jamaican sweep of the podium places with Jackson finishing second in a personal best 10.73 seconds and Elaine Thompson-Herah third in 10.81 seconds.
Fraser-Pryce was also the Diamond League 100m champion in 2022 and ran a world-leading 10.62 seconds among her record seven sub-10.70 100m races during the season.
Meanwhile, Broadbell enjoyed an excellent breakout season in which he ran 13.08 seconds to win 110m hurdles gold at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and enjoyed some strong Diamond League performances, including a personal best time of 12.99 seconds while defeating American World and Olympic champion Grant Holloway of the USA at the Lausanne Diamond League meet in August, before finishing second to Holloway at the finale in Zurich the following month.
World 200m champion Shericka Jackson and West Indies all-rounder Rovman Powell, who led the Jamaica Tallawahs to their third Caribbean Premier League T20 title and Jamaica Scorpions to their first Super 50 title in 10 years, were the respective runners-up.
Fraser-Pryce, in her second race of the season, eased to a season’s best time of 10.98 to advance to Friday’s semi-finals as the fastest qualifier.
Tia Clayton ran a personal best 11.02 to also advance from Fraser-Pryce’s heat while Ashanti Moore ran 11.24 in third to also advance.
Jackson also looked in cruise control, jogging to a season’s best 10.99 to win her heat. Jodean Williams came agonizingly close to dipping below the 11-second barrier for the first time with a personal best 11.01 in second while Alana Reid also advanced with 11.20 in third. Niesha Burgher's 11.32 was also enough to take her through.
The third heat produced five semi-finalists with Natasha Morrison (11.12), Kemba Nelson (11.16), Shockoria Wallace (11.24), Briana Williams (11.25) and Lanae-Tava Thomas (11.27) all getting through to the semis.
Shashalee Forbes (11.03), Krystal Sloley (11.12), Tina Clayton (11.13) and Jonielle Smith (11.23) advanced to the semi-finals from heat four.
The semi-finals and final are scheduled for Friday.
Fraser-Pryce dominated 100-metre sprinting in 2022, setting the eighth fastest time of the year, and winning the gold medal at the World Championships in Oregon. Fraser-Pryce also took silver medals in the 200m and the 4 x 100 metres relay at the World Championships, before winning the Diamond for 100m in Zurich. She ended the year ranked No. 1 in the 100m and No. 3 in the 200m. Fraser-Pryce won the National Sportswoman of the Year award in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2019.
Shericka Jackson astonished the world with amazing 200m runs in 2022. She took the sprint double at the National Championships, before winning the 200m at the World Championships in Oregon, running the second fastest time in history —21.45 seconds. Jackson also took silver in the 100m and the sprint relay at the World Championships. She then won the 100m at the NACAC Championship, finished second in the 100m at the Diamond League final, and won the 200m Diamond in Zurich. She finished the year ranked No. 1 in the 200m and No. 2 in the 100m.
The other six nominees are Britany Anderson, Lamara Distin, Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, Shanieka Ricketts, Janieve Russell and Elaine Thompson-Herah.
National 100-metre hurdle champion, Anderson took the silver medal for her event at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon and added the Diamond League bronze medal to top off a very good year. Globally, she ranked third for her event.
Distin won gold at the Commonwealth Games with a height of 1.95 metres. She also won the NCAA High Jump title.
Fowler-Reid set a new record of 808 goals for the Suncorp Super Netball League in Australia. She then went on to be the highest scorer at the Commonwealth Games with 273 goals. Fowler-Reid, who led Jamaica to its first victory over Australia in senior netball, was the driving force behind Jamaica’s second place finish at the Commonwealth Games, the Sunshine Girls’ highest global ranking in international netball.
Triple jumper Shanieka Ricketts had a great 2022, winning the National Championship in Kingston as well as several international meets. At the World Championships in Eugene, she took the silver medal in 14.89 metres. She added the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games and the bronze medal at the Diamond League Final in Zurich. She finished the year ranked No. 2.
National Champion Janieve Russell had a good 2022 over the 400m hurdles. She had several high finishes on the Diamond League circuit, won the 400m hurdles at the NACAC Championship in The Bahamas, and finished third at the Diamond League Final in Zurich. She finished the year ranked 5th for the 400m hurdles.
Despite struggling with significant injuries, Elaine Thompson-Herah still managed some outstanding performances in 2022. She took the 100m bronze medal at the World Championships in Oregon and added the silver medal in the sprint relay. Thompson-Herah then went on to the Commonwealth Games where she achieved the rare sprint double, winning the 100m in 10.95 seconds, and the 200m in 22.02 seconds. She finished the year ranked No. 3 in the 100m. She won the award in 2016 and 2021.
The winner will be announced at the RJR Gleaner National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards Ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus on January 23.
The two-time Olympic 100m gold medallist promises that the occasion will be one to remember.
Since its inception in 2013, the foundation has awarded scholarships to 73 student athletes across various sports from 26 schools across Jamaica. They are able to do so through generous backing from companies like GraceKennedy, Digicel and now National Baking Company Foundation, who donated JMD$1,000,000.00 to the foundation at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on Tuesday when 11 more student-athletes were awarded scholarships.
Each scholarship recipient, in addition to the JMD$100,000 academic scholarship, will also receive, JMD$7500 NIKE book bag, official Pocket Rocket Foundation notebooks and Promise Pin, a JMD$15,000 Book voucher, a $10,000 GraceKennedy Food Basket and a JMD$25,000 DIGICEL Tablet with JMD$3,000 worth of credit.
Fraser-Pryce explained afterwards that the work is just beginning hence the fundraiser planned for next month.
“For the Pocket Rocket Foundation, we have a lot of visions that we are implementing currently from the Rocket Start Breakfast Programme that we rolled out last year, donating deep freezes and refrigerators to different schools, just to enhance school life,” she remarked.
“What we have coming up is the Pocket Rocket Foundation’s 10th anniversary fundraising gala at the AC Hotel on November 4 when we are looking forward to all that we have been able to accomplish throughout the years as well as implementing a (public-relations) etiquette seminar for students.”
Among the foundation’s future plans is a strategy to prepare high school student-athletes for college by providing them with the tools they need to successfully make the transition thus enhancing the chances of success.
“I think one of the things that is also important for the foundation is college readiness,” said Fraser-Pryce, who has a degree in Child and Adolescent Development from the University of Technology.
“We have a lot of athletes that are here from different sports and a lot of them will need help in transitioning because it is not as easy as it seems. It definitely takes a while to transition and some of the things we want also want to be able to offer them is mental health support because for a lot of persons there are different ways that they cope and I want to assist as best as possible, helping them to cope. It’s not just about giving them cash and kind but it is to be readily available to cater to different needs that we don’t know of or money can’t buy.”
These are among the reasons why the five-time World 100m champion will be asking patrons of the gala to make the sacrifice and turn out for the occasion because every dollar raised will go towards building these student-athletes into productive citizens of Jamaica.
“How it works is that you just empty your bank account, give it us and we can continue to invest in student-athletes,” she said breaking out into laughter.
“The ticket costs USD$350 and also, as a company, you can be a sponsor of the gala and you can have a table for your company to have up to 10 persons to attend. We’ll have items for auction and raffle items,” she said.
“Sportsmax will also be there to live-stream the event so wherever you are in the world you will be able to participate. It will be a night of excellence.”
Jackson, who won silver in the 100m in a personal best 10.73 on Sunday, looked magnificent in semi-final 1, cruising to 21.67 to win and advance to the final.
100m bronze medallist and double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah finished third in semi-final 2 in a season’s best 21.97 to advance to the final as a fastest loser. The USA’s Tamara Clark ran 21.95 to win while defending world champion Dina Asher-Smith ran a season’s best 21.96 for second.
Newly-crowned 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was also impressive in semi-final 3, running a season’s best 21.82 to win ahead of US champion Abby Steiner (22.15).
Dominican Republic Mixed Relay gold-medallist Alexander Ogando continued his brilliant world championships so far with a personal best and national record 19.91 to win semi-final 1 of the men’s 200m.
Trinidadian 2017 World Championship bronze medallist Jereem Richards of Trinidad & Tobago finished third in semi-final 2 in a brilliant 19.86 to advance to the final as a fastest loser. American defending champion Noah Lyles ran a brilliant 19.62 to win the race while Olympic silver medallist Kenny Bednarek, also of the USA, ran a season’s best 19.84 for second.
In the women’s 400m hurdles, Jamaican champion Janieve Russell ran 54.42 to win heat 2 and advance to the semi-finals.
Panama’s Gianna Woodruff ran 55.21 to finish third in semi-final 3 and progress. Jamaica’s Shiann Salmon produced 54.01 in heat 4 to finish second and advance while her teammate, 2019 World Championship bronze medallist Rushell Clayton finished fourth in heat 5 in 54.99 to advance.
Jaheel Hyde ran a new personal best 48.03 for sixth in the men’s 400m hurdles final. Brazilian world leader Alison Dos Santos dominated to win gold in a championship record 46.29 while Americans Rai Benjamin (46.89) and Trevor Bassitt (47.39) were second and third.
The two-time World 200m champion produced a season’s best 10.84 to take top spot ahead of 19-year-old Tia Clayton who ran 10.90 to finish second after running a personal best 10.86 to get to the final.
Two-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce booked a spot at her fifth Olympic Games with 10.94 in third.
The top six was rounded out by Shashalee Forbes (11.04), Kemba Nelson (11.14) and Alana Reid (11.14).
“I’m feeling good. I just wanted to qualify and I did so I’m okay,” Jackson told the media after her race.
“I only ran one 100m before these championships and my 200m haven’t been the best but you just have to trust the process and I’m here today,” she added.
On the Men’s side, Kishane Thompson delivered on the promise he showed in both the heats on Thursday and the semi-finals earlier on Friday with a personal best and world leading 9.77 to win his maiden national 100m title.
Oblique Seville ran 9.82 to take second while Ackeem Blake ran a season’s best 9.92 in third.
Bryan Levell (10.04), Jelani Walker (10.04) and Jehlani Gordon (10.07) rounded out the top six in the final.
In the Under-20 100m finals, Edwin Allen’s Theianna-Lee Terrelonge ran a brilliant personal best 11.13 to win the girls final ahead of Muschett High’s Shanoya Douglas (11.28) and Lacovia’s Sabrina Dockery (11.29).
The boys equivalent was won by Gary Card of Wolmer’s Boys in a brilliant personal best of 10.07, the second fastest time ever by a Jamaican junior.
Herbert Morrison Technical’s Deandre Daley ran 10.16 for second while Kingston College’s Nyrone Wade was third in 10.36.
Meals such as hot dogs, popcorn, snow cones, rice and peas with fried chicken and macaroni and cheese with salad, chicken soup as well as unlimited juices and water were provided.
GraceKennedy provided an activity zone with Santa giving snacks from his sack throughout the day while Digicel provided five different bouncy houses and an inflatable obstacle course.
Children also received a SFP Pocket Rocket Foundation gift bag containing age-appropriate toys along with a GraceKennedy snack bag. Older children received branded NIKE drawstring bags.
“Once again, I thank my Sponsors this year NIKE, GraceKennedy, Digicel, Excelsior, Rubis, Toyota Jamaica, Scoops Unlimited and Sagicor in making both the Ewarton and Waterhouse Christmas Treat a tremendous success,” Fraser-Pryce said.
The duo has been booked to face off in the 100m, an event that the Jamaican has so far shown strong form in this season. Fraser-Pryce has clocked the fastest time in the world so far this season, courtesy of a 10.67 clocking in Nairobi in May, which was equalled, in France, in June.
Swoboda, for her part, improved her personal best to 11.05 in Paris last month.
"I feel proud to have my name mentioned alongside Shelly-Ann's. She is an icon," Swoboda said.
"Each athlete dreams of achieving at least half of what Fraser-Pryce has and to stay at the top for this long,” she added.
"I hope it will be the best women's 100m race ever to take place on Polish soil. On 6 August I would like to finish as close to the legend as possible."
The two could, however, could also meet at the Oregon World Championships later this month, where Fraser-Pryce will be looking to defend her world title.
With the indomitable Shelly-Ann herself at the forefront, the Foundation embarked on a mission to spread cheer and goodwill. Armed with over $500,000 worth of the quintessential Jamaican Easter fare—bun and cheese—the Mommy Rocket took to the streets of Ashoka Road, beckoning her neighbors to partake in the festivities.
In a display of her down-to-earth demeanor, Shelly-Ann extended a simple yet heartfelt invitation to the community members, urging them to gather at her grandmother's humble abode to receive their Easter treats. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as residents eagerly lined up, each clutching their PRF-branded bags in anticipation of the delights within.
The scale of this year's Easter Treat dwarfed its predecessors, a testament to the growing impact of the Foundation's endeavors. Where once a modest gathering of around a hundred souls had been the norm, now over 300 individuals found themselves beneficiaries of Shelly-Ann's generosity.
The significance of this event reverberated throughout Waterhouse, a neighborhood that had long been touched by the benevolent efforts of the Pocket Rocket Foundation. Just a few months prior, the Foundation had celebrated a decade of unwavering dedication to community development with a grand Fundraising Gala. Thanks to the unwavering support of donors, the Foundation had been empowered to expand its reach, ensuring that even more souls could partake in the joyous Easter festivities.
As the day drew to a close and the last bag of bun and cheese found its home, the echoes of laughter and gratitude lingered in the air. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, with her boundless energy and compassionate spirit, had once again exemplified the true essence of Easter—unity, generosity, and the simple joy of giving. In the hearts of the Waterhouse community, her legacy as a champion both on and off the track would forever endure.
