Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Steps Away From Track and Field Where it all Began — in Japan

September 15, 2025

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the most decorated female 100-meter sprinter in history, concluded her 18-year career at the world championships in Tokyo, finishing sixth in the 100-meter final. Her career began in Japan in 2007 and has come full circle, ending in the same country where she first won a silver medal as a relay team reserve. Despite initially planning to retire after the Paris Olympics, she opted to continue after a gate mix-up prevented her from competing in the semifinals there.

Who is affected

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
Young sprinters from the Caribbean who view her as an idol
Fellow competitor Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia
The track and field community, particularly female sprinters
Jamaican track and field legacy

What action is being taken

Fraser-Pryce is completing her competitive career at the Tokyo world championships
She plans to run in a relay toward the end of the nine-day meet
She is "finishing what she started" after the Paris Olympics disappointment

Why it matters

Fraser-Pryce is concluding her career as the most decorated female 100-meter sprinter in history
She accumulated 24 total medals between Olympics and world championships (8 Olympic medals including 3 golds, and 16 world championship medals including 10 golds)
Her longevity in the sport has been remarkable, competing at a high level at age 38
She inspired a generation of Caribbean sprinters, as noted by Olympic gold medalist Julien Alfred
Even Usain Bolt acknowledged her exceptional longevity and consistency, stating her career made him question his own early retirement

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint