‘Not just for me’

Tokyo, japan:

Jamaican sprint icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has indicated that when she takes to the track at the Japan National Stadium at the World Athletics Championships, she will be competing not just for herself but for everyone who has supported her throughout her illustrious career.

“When I step on the track, I’m not just stepping on the track just for me,” Fraser-Pryce said ahead of the start of the competition.

“It’s not just for me. It’s for my son. It’s for everyone. It’s for all of Jamaica. It’s for every single person that has been riding with me since forever.”

Fraser-Pryce said the support of her family and her fans has proved a pivotal driving force throughout her almost two-decade-long career.

The sprinter recalled 2008 when she burst on to the scene at the Jamaican trials and earned a spot on the team for the Beijing Olympic Games, upsetting more established sprinters.

With her inexperience on the international scene, Fraser-Pryce said many had called for her to be removed from the squad, but the support of her fans kept her confident in her abilities.

She believes that her past situation can be used as a learning experience for others who are chasing their dream in life.

“I remember when I just started, I don’t want to bring it up, but I remember when I just started where persons were, like, take her off the team, she’s too young, she’s inexperienced to be here in this moment,” she recalled.

“So for every single person that’s chasing a dream or a goal and you feel like you’re stuck, and you don’t know where to go, just continue to believe that there’s more.

“So when I step on the track, I’m stepping on that track with all of that, you know, being mindful and celebrating the moment, the history and everything. And I’m excited about it. I really am.”

EYEING GLORY

Fraser-Pryce is set to line up in the women’s 100m, where she will be joined by compatriots Shericka Jackson and national champion Tina Clayton.

The sprinter said her goal will be close out her career with a final podium finish and feels in great shape to do so.

“My ultimate goal is to stand on the podium, of course,” she said

“But at the same time, whatever happens, I’m walking away feeling confident and happy for all that I’ve achieved because I’m sure if you would have put me being here at this point, a lot of persons would have thought this wouldn’t be possible.”

She continued: “I think this is going to be an exciting championship mostly because I’m in a good space. I think mentally, I’m good, I’ve trained, it has been fantastic, and I’m just looking forward to putting the pieces together.”

Keenly aware that this will be her final time donning the black, green, and gold of Jamaica, Fraser-Pryce said she is only focused on her race execution.

She explained that she had not dwelt on the emotional aspect of her final championships just yet as that would be too much of a distraction from her goal of finishing on the podium.

“It is my last championship, and I think right now, because I’m just so focused on running each round, I don’t want to think about the emotional part of stepping away because those things can interfere with the preparation,” she said.

“I am just really grateful to be here in this moment because I’ve said it before, I’ve passed probably the hardest part, which was making the national team. So being here is such a huge blessing, and I’m really excited about the opportunity to be here and to compete.”

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com