The track queen of Jamaica has reclaimed her crown. Even at the ripe old age of 35, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce continues to discover new ways to break records and defy the rules of sports gravity.
Gold was delivered in classic Fraser-Pryce fashion in Eugene. She exploded out of the blocks, accelerated considerably faster than her competitors, and put the race out of reach long before she crossed the finish line in 10.67, well ahead of her compatriots Shericka Jackson, who won silver in 10.73, and Tokyo Olympic champion Elaine Thompson-Herah, who won bronze in 10.81.
Dina Asher-Smith of the United Kingdom ran her heart out and matched her national record of 10.83, however she finished in fourth place. “It stinks,” she conceded. “I was almost there.”
This night, though, belonged to Fraser-Pryce, who won her maiden Olympic 100m title in 2008, a day after Usain Bolt exploded into the sporting stratosphere.
She has won world championships in 2009, 2013, 2015, 2019, and now 2022. After the 2017 caesarean delivery of her son Zyon, she believed she would never regain her core strength, let alone return to her best. In contrast, her legend has risen with each passing year.
“I hope this demonstrates that age makes no difference,” she stated afterward. “Whether you are in your 20s or 30s, you can still accomplish great things. You must simply complete and have faith in yourself, your instincts, and your gut.
“I feel privileged to have this skill and to still be doing it at age 35, after having a child, and to maybe inspire other women to embark on their journeys.”
Who would now dare to question her status as the greatest female sprinter of all time? Not when this victory made her the first athlete to win five world titles in a single running event and the oldest ever track world champion, surpassing Justin Gatlin.
And the most astounding statistic of all? In her seven global 100-meter final victories, Fraser-Pryce has never run faster than she did on Sunday night. At 35.
Undoubtedly, the ultra-fast Beynon track at Hayward Field played a significant role in this astounding performance. As are the new line of super spikes announced in 2019, which, according to renowned sprint coach Lance Baumann, are worth between 0.07 and 0.10 seconds over 100 meters. In recent years, her technique has also improved.
However, when asked about her achievements, Fraser-Pryce opted for a more straightforward explanation. “I am a rival,” she responded. “I love to compete.”
As she applauded, Asher-Smith pondered what might have been in lane eight. She was close behind Fraser-Pryce for the opening 30 meters of the race and maintained second place until the final 25 meters when Jackson passed her.
Even yet, bronze was still a possibility entering the final strides. She was then surprised by Thompson-Herah in lane four, who sprinted home to win by 0.02 seconds.
Asher-Smith later stated, “I was unable to see anything from lane eight.” “This has both positive and negative aspects. You sprint without tensing up, yet you cannot see anyone approaching from behind. I had a solid performance. A tremendous run. Unfortunately, it came in fourth place, but the quality of the final was fantastic.”
This much is accurate. The other British sprinter, Daryll Neita, ran a semi-final time of 10.96 seconds but missed the final.
When asked whether Fraser-Pryce was the greatest, Asher-Smith nodded. “Likely,” she said. “That was incredible. 10.67 is a phenomenal time, and in a championship it is incredible. It is a terrific thing to do on a one-time basis. To accomplish this feat on the backs of two other races is remarkable.”
The bad news for Fraser-competitors Pryce is that she has no intention of relenting. Instead, she intends to accelerate.
She explained with foreboding intent, “I am perpetually yearning for greater responsibility.” “Because I believe additional action is necessary. I am confident that I can run faster. And I am not going to quit until I do.”
