'I believe God gave me a gift': Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, sprint queen and more

When we look at her, what we see first is this incredible hair in the yellow and green colors of her country, Jamaica.

But you have to go beyond appearances to understand how much Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the 100m world champion (in 10′'67 is the Worlds record) is more than that.

The lady is a queen of the track and beyond.

IN A WORLD OF HER OWN 🙌@realshellyannfp 🇯🇲 destroys the championship 100m record in 10.67 to claim her FIFTH world 100m title and leads a Jamaican sweep 💪#WorldAthleticsChamps pic.twitter.com/g0cflr1dbV

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) July 18, 2022

Already in her sport, she has few equals.

On the night of July 17 to 18 in Eugene, Oregon, the Jamaican won her 5th title of world champion in the 100m after 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2019. That alone is incredible, especially if we remember her age: 35 years.

“The secret of my success is that I am a competitor.

I love competition and I believe God gave me a gift.

I firmly believe that I am able to run faster, and since I believe in it, I will not stop until I do.

“In two years in Paris, she will be 37 years old but will still very likely be the favorite of the queen event.

A prize list but not only

On her way home to Kingston, she will try to find space in her closet to place it alongside her 11 other World Championship medals (10 of which are gold), her 9 Games medals (3 of which are gold including two on 100m in 2008 and 2012) and other awards.

Look no further for one of the greatest athletes of all time, and not just in the sprint.

Because if we add to her world golds in the 100m that of the 200m won in 2013, i.e. six individual titles, she makes a place for herself alongside the legends Sergei Bubka, Michael Johnson and Mo Farah.

Only his compatriot Usain Bolt did better, with seven world crowns in the 100m and 200m.

🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇

FIVE-TIME WORLD 100M CHAMPION

🇯🇲 @realshellyannfp 🇯🇲

10.67 ‼️ CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD ‼️ pic.twitter.com/q6zGG18olZ

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) July 18, 2022

But Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is not just a prize list.

Born in the Waterhouse district, a Kingston ghetto plagued by violence, of which one of her cousins ​​was the victim, she does not forget where she comes from.

She was raised by her mother Maxine – also an ex-sprinter – who took care of herself alone with her two brothers, depriving herself regularly for her children.

She was constantly telling him, "You have talent, go and use it."

This sentence became his slogan.

Endowed with a crazy charisma, Fraser-Pryce created the “Pocket rocket” foundation a few years ago (“Pocket rocket”, her nickname), thanks to which she collects donations and raises funds to grant scholarships. to middle school and high school students aged 12 to 18: "Shelly is a humble young woman who has not forgotten her roots, drawing strength from her belief in excellence, whether as a woman, mother , athlete, entrepreneur, philanthropist or speaker”, assures the website of the foundation.

At this time, 55 student-athletes (29 girls, 26 boys) in 22 establishments and 11 different sports benefit from Bob Marley's country of academic scholarships offered by his foundation.

A suspension for doping in 2010...

UNICEF Ambassador Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is also campaigning for better childbirth conditions in Jamaica, or for better information on breastfeeding.

Because she has been the mother of a little Zyon herself since 2017: “My husband and my son were in the stands.

But they don't really like being in the light, so they sit up high so no one sees them,” she said after her new triumph.

After motherhood, my motivation was stronger than before.

We girls are so scared to start our family, people think we can never come back after pregnancy.

Coming back was important to show myself and others that it was possible to break down barriers.

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Fraser-Pryce tackles at every opportunity, the subject of the place of women in the world of sport.

At the beginning of the year, she was one of 13 sportswomen - with Serena Williams - who received €1.3 million from Nike ($100,000 each) for a foundation for better inclusion of women in sports. sports circles.

In this extraordinary life, the Jamaican drags only one shadow, a suspension for doping.

In Shanghai, in May 2010, she tested positive for oxycodone, a powerful analgesic from the opioid family used to calm pain.

She always said she used it to soothe a toothache.

But she forgot to mention its use during a check.

Verdict: six months suspension imposed by the IAAF.

She returns in 2011, to continue to win everything.