Jamaica’s track and field champions returned home from the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, receiving a warm and celebratory reception at Norman Manley International Airport.
The delegation included the nation’s sprinting icon, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who brought home a silver medal in the women’s 4×100 meters relay — her 17th and final World Championships medal.
Fraser-Pryce celebrated as all-time sprinting great
Minister of Sport, Olivia Grange, led the accolades, declaring Fraser-Pryce the greatest female sprinter in history.
“As far as we are all concerned, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is not only the best woman sprinter Jamaica has produced but is the best the world has seen,” Minister Grange said.
Fraser-Pryce’s illustrious career includes five World Championship 100m titles, more than any woman in history, cementing her legacy as a global sprinting legend.
Champion and community leader
Minister Grange also lauded Fraser-Pryce for her philanthropic work through the Pocket Rocket Foundation, which she launched in 2013 to support student athletes and empower Jamaican youth.
“Through community initiatives and developmental programmes, the Foundation has made its impact, and we want to congratulate you, Shelly-Ann, on that initiative,” said Minister Grange.
The foundation provides academic funding, mentorship, and guidance to young athletes, nurturing both their sporting and educational potential.
A career reflected and celebrated
Fraser-Pryce, now transitioning into retirement, expressed gratitude during the reception, which was hosted by GraceKennedy, for which she serves as a brand ambassador. She reflected on her journey, which began at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan.
“It has been an amazing beginning and amazing chapter, a part of the book, and to be able to share the moment with upcoming queens is also remarkable,” Fraser-Pryce said.
Her career concludes with a staggering 17 World Championships medals: 10 gold, 6 silver, and 1 bronze, a record that stands as a testament to her dominance, consistency, and resilience on the world stage.
