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• Bolt hails Shelly’s remarkable legacy; advises Jackson, Thompson-Herah to not be overburdened by milestone chase

  As Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce prepares to bring the curtains down on her remarkable career, another legendary sprinter, Usain Bolt, paid tribute to his esteemed colleague, and also offered words of encouragement to Jamaica's rising stars.

  Earlier this year, Fraser-Pryce, one of Jamaica’s most beloved sporting icons, announced that this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris will be her closing act, and it will mark the end of a decorated and enduring career which spanned over a decade.

  Fraser-Pryce’s success on the track and consistency at major championships, not only helped to usher in the golden age of Jamaican sprinting, but her electrifying speed and unparalleled grace on the track, has resulted in her being regarded as one of the greatest sprinters of all time.

  With 16 World Championships medal to her name, the “Pocket Rocket” is one of the most decorated athletes to grace the biennial event, and those are backed by her eight Olympic medals. She is the only sprinter to win five world titles in the 100m —2009, 2013, 2015, 2019, and 2022 –the latter coming at the age of 35, making her the oldest sprinter to achieve the feat.

  The now 37-year-old Fraser-Pryce, who has won more individual medals than any other female sprinter in history, is aiming to possibly bow out on a high on what would be her fifth Olympic Games appearance in Paris. But win or lose, Bolt pointed out that her dedication, tenacity, and unwavering commitment to excellence has already left an indelible mark on the world of track and field.

  “It's just outstanding. I think she's showing me up because that means I could still be running, but for me it's just outstanding to see her at this level and still going further and dominating, being in the medals always, it's just…there's no words, because I know the work that it takes,” Bolt, the ambassador for Red Stripe’s ‘Guh Fi Gold and Glory’ campaign, told journalists during the event’s launch in Half Way Tree recently.

  “So, to be dedicated and to be pushing yourself, even after having a child and coming back to doing that (win a World title), just shows the level that she is at, and how determined she is. The women overall have been doing extremely well. They have really dominated the sport. I'm happy to see that,” he added.

  

  Bolt, an eight-time Olympic gold medallist and the world’s fastest man over 100m and 200m, also offered words of encouragement to Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thompson-Herah, who along with Fraser-Pryce are the nation's brightest talents.

  Jackson, 29, is the fastest woman alive over 200m at 21.41s, inching ever closer to Florence Joyner’s World Record of 21.34s, while Thompson-Herah, 31, is the fastest woman alive over 100m at 10.54s, and second fastest over 200m at 21.53s.

  “I want to tell her [Jackson] to just continue. I think a lot of times, we go in (a race) and think about breaking the record, that's when it really puts a lot of pressure on us. I would tell her, just go in and run your best race. Do not think about the record. The moment you start thinking about records, that's when you might tighten up at the end because you really want to get there, or you might make simple mistakes. So just go out there, think about executing and just run your hardest,” Bolt shared.

  Where Thompson-Herah is concerned, she is the first ever female sprinter, and the second sprinter after Bolt to win the sprint double at consecutive Olympics, as she captured the 100m and 200m gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She is now aiming to rewrite the history books, by repeating the feat for a third time on the trot, at the Paris Games.

  

  “[To Elaine], I would say don't stress yourself too much because with that (the triple double) on your mind, at times, you kind of try to work too hard and push yourself over the limit. Just do what you always do. Do what you know what you need to do to get there. Do not try to do anything extra,” Bolt said.

  “Just do the necessary training, necessary rest, the necessary workouts and I think you'll be fine. Because staying away from injuries...I think she's been through a lot, so staying injury free is always going to be the top priority right now, and I think that should be her focus. Just doing the right things and making sure she's ready when it matters,” he reasoned.

  Finally, to those up-and-coming athletes that are on course to making their first Olympic appearance, Bolt had this to say.

  “Just enjoy yourself. It’s a great experience, so just enjoy the whole thing. The Olympics is a different game because there will be so many things happening, so enjoy the moment. You might see a lot of basketball players, swimmers and everybody. So, the key thing is just to enjoy and to see what's going on, it is going to be wonderful,” he ended.

• Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce kicks off her 2024 community outreach with Easter Treat in Waterhouse

  Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the celebrated Olympic gold medalist known affectionately as the "Pocket Rocket," ignited the spirit of Easter joy in her beloved Waterhouse community with a heartwarming gesture that echoed her commitment to social outreach. On the bright Saturday morning of March 30th, the SFP Pocket Rocket Foundation launched its annual Easter Treat, marking the onset of its community engagement efforts for the year 2024.

  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.

• Jamaica wins three of four 200m gold medals on final day of 2024 Carifta Games: T&T's Chinapoo breaks sweep with victory in U17 boys sprint

   Jamaica's sprinting prowess was on full display on the final evening of the 51st Carifta Games held at the Kirani James Stadium in Grenada, as they clinched three out of four gold medals in the highly anticipated 200m races on Monday. The battles on the track were fierce, but Jamaica's athletes rose to the occasion, delivering standout performances that solidified their dominance in sprinting events.

  In the Under 17 Girls 200m dash, Jamaica’s Natrece East battled hard to emerge victorious in a fiercely contested race. She surged across the finish line in 23.74 seconds, securing the gold medal amidst the stiff competition. Athaleyha Hinckson of Guyana claimed the silver medal with a time of 23.85 seconds, closely followed by Antigua and Barbuda's Tyra Fenton, who clinched bronze in 23.97 seconds.

  Trinidad and Tobago's Kadeem Chinapoo showcased his speed and determination in the Under 17 Boys 200m, clinching victory with a time of 21.78 seconds. Jamaica's Oshane Jervis secured the silver medal in 22.16 seconds, while Tiondre Frett of the British Virgin Islands took home the bronze with a time of 22.18 seconds.

  The U20 Girls 200m race witnessed an exhilarating showdown between Jamaica's Shanoya Douglas and Sabrina Dockery and Trinidadian speed twins Sole and Sanna Frederick. Douglas, the gold medallist in the U20 Girls 400m, surged late to emerge triumphant, crossing the finish line in 23.03 seconds despite a challenging battle.

  Sole Frederick claimed silver with a time of 23.07 seconds, while Jamaica's Sabrina Dockery secured the bronze medal in 23.13 seconds. Sanna Frederick of Trinidad and Tobago narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth with a time of 23.24 seconds.

  In the Under 20 Boys 200m, Jamaica's Gary Card blazed to victory in impressive fashion, clocking a time of 20.60 seconds to claim the gold medal. Aragorn Straker of Barbados secured silver with a time of 20.76 seconds, while Davonte Howell of the Cayman Islands earned bronze in 20.90 seconds.