That is heartfelt piece by RBR senior author for Europe, Stuart Weir on an athlete he has noticed for seventeen years, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
Shelly Ann says Goodbye to the Diamond League.
My involvement within the sport spans roughly the identical profession as Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s. I first noticed her as a comparatively unknown 21-year-old within the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Comparatively unknown till she gained the 100m gold medal! I’ve seen her in 5 Olympics and 7 World Championships, the odd Commonwealth Video games, and fairly just a few Diamond Leagues. In Brussels on August 22, 2025, she ran her final Diamond League, now aged 38. Melissa Jefferson-Wood was the runaway winner – actually – ending in 10.76, the one one to interrupt 11 seconds. Shelly was fourth in 11.17.
Ever the consummate skilled, she was reluctant to touch upon the race afterwards “as a result of I would wish to return and watch the replay”. Although she did admit, “I don’t suppose the beginning was nice”. As at all times, she was concentrating on the positives: “It’s a terrific feeling to compete and end wholesome. I’m enthusiastic about these alternatives. I really feel I’ve a lot to realize and nothing to lose.” Requested to replicate on her profession, she mentioned: “I’ve quite a lot of recollections and all these recollections have formed the lady that I’m. They’re recollections that I maintain actually pricey. It’s not simply the joy of the competitors; it’s the athletes and the relationships you construct with every athlete. In the end, we’re all chasing the prize, and all of us have a narrative”.
There’s yet one more chapter within the SAFP story, the world championships subsequent month. She advised us, “I’m enthusiastic about Tokyo, simply working over the following few weeks and hoping all of it comes collectively. I’m a fierce competitor; my solely aim is to win! I at all times go to my blocks pondering that I can win.”
In a press convention earlier within the week, she mentioned, “I’m wholesome and have skilled exhausting over the previous few months. I’m able to go for a sixth world title in Tokyo! Brussels is an important assembly for me. Good coaching alone is just not sufficient; you even have to have the ability to apply it successfully in competitors. I wish to nail my begin on Friday, and I additionally wish to see different technical particulars that I’ve labored exhausting on translating right into a aggressive benefit. A quick time on Friday would definitely be a confidence booster, however a very powerful factor is the technical execution. Then the quick time will come naturally. I really like racing in opposition to different prime athletes; it brings out the most effective in me.
“Folks typically ask me if I nonetheless have something to lose at 38, with my observe file. In fact I do! Nevertheless, I desire to debate what I’ve to realize. I’m a fierce competitor; my solely aim is to win, even at 38. If I didn’t imagine it was potential, I wouldn’t be doing this anymore. My secret? There isn’t any secret. My coaching self-discipline has taken me this far, and I derive immense pleasure from the game. I take pleasure in it immensely and am very grateful for all the things I’ve achieved in my profession and the experiences I’ve had.
“After the disappointing Paris Video games, I took my time to get better and rebuild. I’m wholesome and have skilled exhausting over the previous few months. I’m able to go!”
