Emily Abbate (Marie Claire, 9 July 2025) writes about Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, also known as “the Pocket Rocket.” Abbate explains, “The Olympic medalist and world track champion has been the one to catch for nearly two decades. After withdrawing unexpectedly from the Paris Olympics in 2024 in what was supposed to be her last race, the star sprinter has emerged for one last season—and to explain what really happened.” Here are excerpts. Read this fascinating piece at Marie Claire. [Thank you, Peter Jordens, for sharing this with us!]
A physical therapist, wearing all black, is focused on the right hamstring. Her hands knead the muscle, thumbs pressing into the skin with both force and care. She works her way down to the calf, then the achilles. Outside is the loud thrum of Monday afternoon traffic in Jamaica’s central Kingston, but inside the back room of the unassuming space, the energy is quiet, focused.
The calm mannerisms of the staff, the relaxed vibe of it all, belies the reality that facedown on the treatment table is Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. An eight-time Olympic medalist and five-time 100-meter world champion; one of the biggest names to ever come out of Jamaica, a country that prides itself on its track and field stars.
That Fraser-Pryce is preparing her body to run again belies another reality. The last time most people saw Fraser-Pryce, it was early 2024, and she had just announced her plans to retire after the Paris Olympics. She wanted to spend more time with her son Zyon, who is now 7, and her husband Jason. Going into the Games, Fraser-Pryce’s sprint times were lightning in a bottle; there was a palpable buzz building around her chance to take gold, in what would be a perfect finish to a legendary career.
But then the unexpected happened. On the eve of her semi-finals race, Fraser-Pryce, suddenly and without much explanation, pulled out of the Olympic competition, seemingly ending her run as a track star.
At least, that’s how it looked. Until mid-May, when Fraser-Pryce, now 38, emerged confidently back on the world stage at the Wanda Diamond League where she ran a blazing 100-meter time of 11.05 seconds (notably faster than 25-year-old Sha’Carri Richardson’s season opener of 11.47). Then in June, she officially qualified for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, which she’ll compete in come September. A race that Fraser-Pryce says will be her last. [. . .]
To truly go the distance, though, Fraser-Pryce knew she’d need more than natural abilities. “There’s no success without hard work, even if you have talent,” she says. “I realized that if I worked hard, stayed committed and passionate, then I could really go places.” [. . .]
Things took off from there. Winning titles at the Under-18 Championships and then on the international stage: medaled at four consecutive Olympics, first Caribbean woman to win gold for the 100-meter, third fastest woman of all time, the list goes on. She earned the nickname “the Pocket Rocket” for her small stature and impressive speed. And she earned endorsement deals too, including from Nike. “Her dedication to her craft is almost incomparable,” says Tanya Hvizdak, vice president of global sports marketing at Nike. “She thinks differently about how she trains, and that has afforded her the ability to do this for such a long time. Shelly will run through walls when she’s committed to getting something done.” [. . .]
For full article, see https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/shelly-ann-fraser-pryce-interview-2025