Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Sha’Carri Richardson at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. PC – World Athletics
Before getting to the emotional scenes of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s final dance on the track, here’s a look on how her return will shake the women’s sprint division ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo.
Since the legendary Jamaican sprint queen Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce announced her return for the 2025 season, track fans have been excited about what it could mean for Sha’Carri Richardson, Julien Alfred, and the women’s sprint division.
The exceptional two-time Olympic champion revealed her comeback for a final ‘unfinished business’ on the track using an inspiring video that captured her career highlights, posting it on her Instagram page. Shortly after this, a representative from her camp confirmed it as her final season.
This has brought mixed emotions from fans – the anticipation of being treated to another year of greatness by the sprint queen, and the sad realization of her over a decade and a half legendary career coming to an end.
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With this in mind and before getting to the emotional scenes of her final dance on the track, here’s a look at the impact of Fraser-Pryce’s return in the women’s sprint division ahead of the World Championships in Tokyo.
Jamaican legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is one of the greatest sprinters in history
Shake-up in the women’s sprint division
In 2023, Fraser-Pryce first announced that the Paris 2024 Games would be her final Olympics and wanted it to be her “last hurrah.”
Unfortunately, after advancing out of the 100m first round, she withdrew before the semifinals, did not publicly announce reasons for her withdrawal, and has not raced since.
In her absence, the women’s sprint category has been a two-horse race between Richardson and Saint Lucia’s golden girl Alfred, who claimed the 100m glory in Paris as well as the Diamond League trophy. Likewise, the American 2023 world 100m champion ended the 2024 season with the world’s fastest time of 10.71s.
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Sha’Carri Richardson (L) won 100m silver medal behind Julien Alfred at the Paris Olympic Games. Why Sha’Carri Richardson does not regret missing out on 100m Olympic gold
With the return of Fraser-Pryce, it has definitely left the race open on fighting for the 100m throne this season as the Jamaican icon can never be written off to have another memorable year in her last dance as the queen of women’s sprints.
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Five to Six – World medal or title in Tokyo to crown a legendary career
Fraser-Pryce is one of the most enduring track athletes in history, with a career that spans over a decade and a half, from the late 2000s to date. As one of the most decorated athletes in history, she has ten gold, five silver medals, and a bronze in world championships history.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is one of the most decorated female sprinters in history – source:
In addition, she is the only sprinter to win five world titles in the 100m – 2009, 2013, 2015, 2019, and 2022. Her win in 2019 made her the first mother in 24years to claim a global 100m title, while her victory in 2022 at age 35, made her the oldest sprinter ever to become a world champion.
The 38-year-old’s track success including consistency at major championships, makes her a top challenger for a medal always, and gold in Tokyo this summer isn’t far-fetched considering she’s a five-time world 100m champion who will be gunning for a sixth.
Richardson is the defending world champion from Budapest and will aim to retain her bragging rights, while Alfred as the newly crowned Olympic champion will target winning her first world title.
Other considerations for the highly prestigious title are returning world 200m champion Shericka Jackson, Paris Olympics 100m bronze medallist Melissa Jefferson, and British sprint queen Dina Asher-Smiith.
Olympic champion Julien Alfred is a strong contender for the world title in Tokyo. Image source: Imago
Despite the top challengers listed above, one thing is sure – If Fraser-Pryce makes the Jamaican team to Tokyo and shows up fit and ready in the Tokyo 100m final, she’s definitely going for her final slice of history.
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