Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Reveals Why She’s Leaving Track & Field as Jamaica Finale Gets Locked In

“In the next two days, it will be my final time gracing the National Stadium,” Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce revealed at a special cocktail reception hosted by Nike on Monday night. Honoring her long partnership with the brand, Fraser-Pryce revealed that she’d be “gracing the National Stadium” for the very last time in the next two days. It was going to be a special occasion. “And as I stand on the track in the next two days, it’s not just about the track, but it’s what’s possible. It’s how we continue to shift and change the narrative around female elite sprinting. It’s about your time, honoring your time. It’s knowing what you want and going the distance for that..” 

She’ll be competing in the 2025 Jamaican National Championships from June 26-29, which also serve as qualifiers for the World Championships in Tokyo this September.  Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, a living legend in track and field, with an incredible three Olympic gold medals and five 100-meter world championships, revealed what made her take such a colossal decision.

The news that she’s hanging up her spikes after the current season sent shockwaves through the track and field community. Her words were filled with a mix of emotion and resolute determination. As it marks the end of an era, but what’s truly driving her decision to step away from the track now?

The answer, it turns out, is deeply rooted in her role as a mother. At 38, the five-time 100m world champion candidly revealed to reporters ahead of the Doha meeting (where she’s competing for the first time in three years) that juggling elite training with motherhood has become incredibly tough. “We have homework [with her son] and we’re still training at 5:00 a.m. and I must say it has been very difficult in the past year because he is much more aware, he is so involved in school. We have so much else going on so splitting the time between those things can be challenging… Some days are good, some days are not so good,” she confessed.

This delicate balancing act between grueling early morning training sessions and the responsibilities of helping with her son’s homework paints a vivid picture of a woman torn between two demanding worlds. For Fraser-Pryce, the choice to retire isn’t just about the physical toll of the sport; it’s about the emotional weight of being truly present for her son. “It is important to show up for my son and that I show up as I am,” she emphasized, highlighting the profound significance of her presence in his life. This unwavering commitment to family, coupled with the relentless schedule of an elite athlete, has undoubtedly shaped her decision.

As she prepares for her final races in Jamaica, it makes you wonder: what kind of legacy will this remarkable woman leave behind, beyond the medals and broken records? For Jamaica!

Fraser-Pryce gives back to grassroots Jamaican athletics

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the legendary sprinter, isn’t just retiring from track and field; she’s stepping up for the sport in a big way! With her three Olympic gold medals and five 100-meter world championships, she’s truly a force of nature. But beyond all the medals and broken records, Shelly-Ann’s heart truly beats for Jamaica, the country that made her who she is.

“I’ve always said that I’m the daughter of the soil,” she shared proudly. “I’m a proud Jamaican because you have shown me love in the ups, in the downs… and it is you who have helped to nurture me and give me that spirit of pride and unwavering support.” Her words really show how deeply grateful she is for the community that cheered her on to greatness. So, how do you even begin to repay that kind of support?

Shelly-Ann’s answer is a powerful new initiative aimed at shaping the future of Jamaican athletics. She was deeply moved by what she saw at the Gibson-McCook Relays earlier this year. “There is absolutely no way we should still have kids running barefooted in this country. Not the Jamaica of world-class sprinters and athletes,” she declared, her passion clear.

That’s why she’s teamed up with Nike to tackle this issue head-on. They’ve announced a project to make sure no primary school athlete ever has to run barefoot again. “Nike and I have decided that it’s at the grassroots level we will have impact. It is my mandate to make sure that every single student at the primary level in this country will never run barefoot at the National Stadium.” This commitment to change, clearly inspired by her own journey, marks an exciting new chapter for Fraser-Pryce.

What an incredible way for this icon to continue impacting the sport and inspire the next generation of Jamaican sprinters!