Despite establishing herself as perhaps the greatest female sprinter of all time, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is not fully satisfied with her achievements in the sport.
Even after more than a decade of global dominance, countless gold medals, and her name etched permanently in the sprinting history books, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce isn’t slowing down.
Fraser-Pryce recently took part in the Doha Diamond League classic, where she finished fifth in what was her first Diamond League race since 2022, but with her, she is building up for the Tokyo World Championships, in what is expected to be the last year of her glamorous career.
Speaking candidly in a recent press conference before the race, the Jamaican sprint legend explained that her motivation remains rooted in two simple but powerful desires: to win and to run fast.
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Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce on What Motivates Her
“I want to win and I want to run fast,” said Fraser-Pryce. “And I believe those two things are possible.”
It is a mantra that has driven the 37-year-old through triumphs, comebacks, and setbacks alike, fueling a career that shows no signs of fading—despite her GOAT status being well-secured.
But while her own ambitions remain crystal clear, Fraser-Pryce is equally inspired by how the sport around her has evolved. She’s taken note of a powerful shift in athlete mentality—especially among the younger generation of track stars.
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Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce reveals What Keeps Her Motivated to Keep Sprinting Despite Cementing GOAT Status
“I would say the biggest change I’ve seen is that ownership,” she said. “Athletes, whether they’re young or older, really owning their space and really showing up—not scared of whoever is in that race.”
“That’s good for athletics. When athletes show up and dominate—no matter who’s beside them—it brings out great competition. You get to see their personalities, know what they’re made of. That’s very important.”
She added that during her early years in track and field, many athletes were shy and uncertain of their goals, herself included. But today’s rising stars have flipped that narrative.
“This generation knows who they are, they know what they want, and they’re not afraid to say it. That’s inspiring.”
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Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce reveals What Keeps Her Motivated to Keep Sprinting Despite Cementing GOAT Status
Fraser-Pryce also shared a glimpse of what might have been had she not been “assigned” to sprinting. When asked what event she would have chosen if not for the 100m and 200m, she laughed:
“I would do hurdles. I actually love the hurdles.”
She then recalled a humorous story from her high school days at Wolmer’s Girls’ School.
“Our coach lined us up and started assigning events—‘You’ll do hurdles, long jump, high jump.’ He picked everyone but me. I was the only one left standing, and I asked, ‘So what am I going to do?’ He just said, ‘Oh, you’re a sprinter.’ Like that was it! I never got to try anything else.”
Despite being “pushed” into sprinting, it turned out to be the perfect fit for the “Pocket Rocket,” whose legacy is built on consistency, resilience, and a relentless hunger to keep soaring higher.
And now, with nothing left to prove, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is still out on the track—chasing excellence simply because she believes she can.
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