Is Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce the greatest sprinter of all time despite the mistreatment she’s faced?
Helpless! That’s the feeling Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce experienced when her calls and WhatsApp messages to Coach Reynaldo Walcott went unanswered at a critical moment. Now, at 37, she is parting ways with Walcott, who has been her coach since early 2020. Under his mentorship, she improved her personal best from 10.70 seconds to 10.60 seconds. Even in 2022, she made history as the first woman to run sub-10.7 seconds.
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However, since that season, Fraser-Pryce has faced back-to-back challenges. Injuries especially a knee injury have plagued her, and a chilly dynamic has developed between her and Walcott, particularly during the 2024 season. remember Thompson-Herah has struggled with injuries this season. It’s worth noting that Thompson-Herah has also faced her share of struggles, failing to qualify for both the 100m and 200m events at the World Championships last year and had to sit out the 4x100m relay, where Jamaica secured silver behind Team USA, anchored by Sha’Carri Richardson.
What was once a strong partnership now feels strained. As Sportsmax publication termed this bond as a “frosty relationship.”When you compare Shelly’s demeanor between 2022 and 2023-2024, the difference is staggering. Shelly these past 18 months has been quiet, not given many interviews, and hasn’t really displayed the same excitement on the track.
Remember when Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce had to withdraw from the 2024 Olympic semifinals right before her race against American star Sha’Carri Richardson and St. Lucian sprinter Julien Alfred? That was such a tough moment for her fans! Now, in a surprising twist, she’s decided to part ways with her coach, Reynaldo Walcott, after four years of working together.
The details about her next steps are still a bit unclear, but it is said Pryce is putting together a new coaching unit. While she hasn’t officially revealed who’s on her new team yet, there’s chatter that it might include Andre Wellington. Interestingly, Walcott was/is also the coach of Elaine Thompson-Herah, so this change adds another interesting layer to Fraser-Pryce’s journey as she moves forward.
What a new chapter means for Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s legendary career!
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Reynaldo Walcott has been working with two of the fastest women in history: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah. Last fall, Thompson-Herah made waves by teaming up with Walcott. It was the first time she and Fraser-Pryce trained together since their MVP Track Club days. On top of that, Walcott also coaches talented hurdlers like Rasheed Broadbell, Megan Tapper, and Rushell Clayton.
When a reporter Citius Mag asked the coach last year about the training dynamics between Fraser-Pryce and Thompson-Herah, Walcott said, “It’s interesting that there’s such a focus on their training setup. Each person will train based on their needs, based on the events they are participating in and their current condition. So all members of my group, the training times that they get is just relative to the stuff that they have to do and based on their own needs.” He made it clear that each athlete’s training was tailored to what they needed, ensuring everyone received the attention and focus required to excel.
Now the dynamics have changed, while, Fraser-Pryce first made her mark on the global stage at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, winning her first 100m gold with a time of 10.78 seconds. Fast forward sixteen years, and she remained one of the most iconic figures in track and field. Her recent decision to part ways with Walcott signaled yet another chapter in her incredible career, leaving fans buzzing with curiosity about how this change would shape her future on the track.
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