The Pocket  Rocket Mum

Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, the USA is in the news these days as it is hosting  the 18th  edition of  The World Athletic Championships, one of the major international sporting events of 2022. ‘ Feel the Glory ‘,  the motto of the event this year has been exemplified by a performance so rare and exquisite that I have been inspired no end to write about it today.  Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the Jamaican sprinter, a mother and all of 35 years, won her 5th 100 metres World Title, to become the only woman to do so in the history of Track and Field.

The Bare Footed  Talent

The achievements of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce are massive and unparalleled and there are many firsts to her name. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Shelly-Ann and her two brothers were  raised by their  mother who was an athlete herself but worked as a street vendor to raise her children. The going was not easy and Shelly-Ann went to a neighbouring school to receive her initial education. She was a decent athlete and since sprinting shoes were difficult to buy, Shelly-Ann used to sprint bare-footed. Inspite of her petit frame, she was quick and it was not long before her special talent  caught the attention of those who mattered. She was the bare footed revelation.

The Lazy Sprinter 

Initially while pursuing her career in athletics Shelly-Ann was not  that disciplined and  by her own admissions she was lazy, reached late for practise sessions and for fear of becoming too muscular she did not complete her workout regimens.  Her sprinting technique too needed corrections to improve her speed. Things changed for Shelly-Ann, when she met Stephen Francis, her coach for 15 years ( 2006-2020 ). She  became    a different arhlete under his tutelage. The technical corrections too were showing results and eventually Shelly-Ann made it to the Olympics of 2008 in Beijing.

The Moment of  Truth 

She was not the Jamaican favourite for the  Olympics, neither was she expected to win anything in the competition. But Shelly-Ann had other ideas. Though initially she was disheartened by the lack of trust in her abilities, she preferred to be the underdog and focussed wholeheartedly on her preparations. She qualified for the Final race in the 100 metres dash  but still, no  one gave her a chance. The spotlight was totally away from her. The  Final race began and Shelly-Ann burst out from the blocks and exploded on the run, flaming out the tracks in her wake to win the Gold. She had become the first ever Caribbean woman to win a 100 m Gold in an Olympic Competition. The world was startled and so was Jamaica. 

The New Found Resilience

Shelly-Ann never looked back after that and successfully defended her 100 m Gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics, becoming the only woman to do so in the history of Olympic Games. Her ability to virtually fly off the blocks inspite of her small frame got her the name Pocket Rocket. Her initial burst in the sprint gave her an edge over others and the huge reservoir of strength which she possessed helped  maintain her run till the end. She fought a severe injury which threatened her career and despite the pain in her right big toe she captured the bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Shelly-Ann was a hard nut and virtually impossible to crack.

Motherhood & A Mighty  Comeback

Later in 2017 Shelly-Ann, gave birth to her son Zyon and was away from competitive sport for sometime. However she promised a comeback and so did she. The preparations were very very difficult for Shelly-Ann and to get back her explosive start was a daunting task. But Shelly-Ann laid to rest all speculations about her form and won the Silver at the  Tokyo Olympics in 2021  in the 100 m sprint. She thus became the only woman to have won medals at 4 consecutive Olympics. Add to this her 5th Gold at the World Athletic Championships a few days ago is testimony enough of the longevity of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. There has been no athlete as consistent as her in the modern era, which speaks volumes of her work ethics, her hardwork and her desire to excel.

An All Time Great

In the 14 years of her career so  far, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has a record 8 Olympic Medals and 12 World Championship medals together in the 100 m, 200m and relays,  making her the most decorated athlete ever. Though she has been sometimes over shadowed by the legendary and countryman Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce could well be the greatest athlete of all times.

“ I feel blessed to have this talent and to continue to do it at 35, having a baby, still going, and hopefully inspiring women that they can make their own journey “, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, after winning the 100 m Gold at Eugene.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce…The Pocket Rocket Mum.