One last time
Fraser-Pryce winds down World Champs career; praises the rise of Tina Clayton
Published:Monday | September 15, 2025 | 12:11 AMGregory Bryce/Staff Reporter
TOKYO, Japan:
After leaving the track in her final individual race at the World Athletics Championships yesterday, Jamaican sprint icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce took the time to reflect on her illustrious career, while praising the rise of the next generation of sprinters.
Fraser-Pryce raced to 11.03 seconds to finish sixth in the final of the women’s 100m last night at the Japan National Stadium.
It signalled the veteran sprinter’s final time gracing the track in an individual event, as she confirmed this would be her last championships in the Jamaican colours.
Speaking after the race, Fraser-Pryce said she was happy to have finished her World Championships career healthy, having been forced to withdraw from the Paris Olympic Games last year.
“I’m really, really grateful that I was able to stand on the track one more time in a 100m finals,” Fraser-Pryce said.
“For me, it has been such a privilege and an honour and my greatest blessing, really and truly, to be able to stand here tonight.
“I came into this championship with so many odds, but I made the finals, and I think that within itself is a huge accomplishment,” she explained.
“Even though the result is not something that I would want for myself, I feel happy that I was able to finish on my own terms, because I think last year Paris really hurt my feelings.”
Fraser-Pryce began her career at the 2007 Osaka World Championships as a member of Jamaica’s 4x100m relay pool.
Eighteen years later, the veteran sprinter will close her career as one of the most decorated athletes of all time.
Reflecting on her time on the track, Fraser-Pryce said she is happy to have shared the scene with several of the best athletes in the sport.
“I remember 2007 when I started, I was unsure of who I was, what I wanted to do, or anything, but I walked away with so much from the championship,” she recalled.
“This time around, I came here with all of those experiences from years of just participating in the championship and tonight, gracing the track and running with some phenomenal ladies has been a blessing.”
CHANGING THE BATON
Where Fraser-Pryce is on her final hurrah, Jamaica is also witnessing the rise of the next generation of female sprinters.
Tina Clayton, the reigning national champion, earned her first global medal as she raced to a personal best of 10.76 to claim the silver medal.
Having hailed Clayton as a fierce competitor ahead of the championships, Fraser-Pryce said she was happy to see the 21-year-old sprinter finish atop the podium.
“This is her first global championships and she walked away with a silver medal,” she praised. “My first global championship was the 4x100m relay reserve.”
“I said it before when I gave the interview earlier, she has won back-to-back World Junior Championships. She knows what it is to step to the line and have to deliver, and tonight, I’m happy that she was able to stay in that zone and get the job on; and congrats to her.”
As she now turns her attention to the women’s 4x100m relay, Fraser-Pryce moves one step closer to her final race.
She, however, will remain focused on her task on the track before handling the emotional weight of stepping away from the sport after almost two decades.
“I’ve been feeling a lot of emotions coming into the championships. And as I said before, I had to hold those in, because it’s hard to kind of focus on the job and think about the emotional part of it,” she explained.
“I think when the championship is over, I would definitely have those feelings. For me, the reception has been beautiful and the love has been phenomenal.
“The athletes that I have met and interacted with has been amazing. And I think, as an athlete, that’s what you want; that’s the impact you want from the sport.”
The heats for the women’s 4x100m relay are set to begin on day eight of the championships, with the final set for the final day.