Jamaican sprint star Fraser-Pryce to retire after Paris Olympics

AFP
By AFP February 09, 2024 09:46 (EAT)
Jamaican sprint star Fraser-Pryce to retire after Paris Olympics

Athletics - Diamond League - Zurich - Letzigrund Stadium, Zurich, Switzerland - September 8, 2022 Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce celebrates with trophy after winning the women's 100m final REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

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Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and 10-time world champion, said she will retire after this year's Paris Olympics in an interview published Thursday.

Speaking to the American magazine Essence, Fraser-Pryce said she is forcing herself to retire at age 37 to spend more time with her family.

"My son needs me," Fraser-Pryce told the magazine. "My husband and I have been together since before I won in 2008. He has sacrificed for me. We're a partnership, a team.

"It's because of that support that I'm able to do the things that I've been doing for all these years. And I think I now owe it to them to do something else."

She is focusing on her training for one last chance at Olympic glory in France, what Fraser-Pryce said is about "pushing boundaries" as well as "showing people that you stop when you decide.

"I want to finish on my own terms."

Fraser-Pryce has won eight Olympic medals, including 100-meter gold at 2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London and a Tokyo Olympic title as part of Jamaica's 4x100 relay.

Her medal haul also includes silver at 100m in Tokyo and 200m in London plus a 2016 Rio 100m bronze.

She won 100m world titles in 2009, 2013, 2015, 2019 and 2022 plus a 200 world crown in 2013 and 4x100 relay golds in 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2019.

"There's not a day I'm getting up to go practice and I'm like, 'I'm over this,'" Fraser-Pryce said.

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