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This is heartfelt piece by RBR senior writer for Europe, Stuart Weir on an athlete he has observed for seventeen years, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
Shelly Ann says Goodbye to the Diamond League.
My involvement in the sport spans approximately the same career as Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s. I first saw her as a relatively unknown 21-year-old in the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Relatively unknown until she won the 100m gold medal! I have seen her in five Olympics and seven World Championships, the odd Commonwealth Games, and quite a few Diamond Leagues. In Brussels on August 22, 2025, she ran her last Diamond League, now aged 38. Melissa Jefferson-Wooden was the runaway winner – literally – finishing in 10.76, the only one to break 11 seconds. Shelly was fourth in 11.17.
Ever the consummate professional, she was reluctant to comment on the race afterwards “because I would need to go back and watch the replay”. Though she did admit, “I don’t think the start was great”. As always, she was concentrating on the positives: “It’s a great feeling to compete and finish healthy. I’m excited about these opportunities. I feel I have so much to gain and nothing to lose.” Asked to reflect on her career, she said: “I have a lot of memories and all those memories have shaped the woman that I am. They are memories that I hold really dear. It’s not just the excitement of the competition; it’s the athletes and the relationships you build with each athlete. Ultimately, we’re all chasing the prize, and we all have a story”.
There is one more chapter in the SAFP story, the world championships next month. She told us, “I am excited about Tokyo, just working over the next few weeks and hoping it all comes together. I am a fierce competitor; my only goal is to win! I always go to my blocks thinking that I can win.”
In a press conference earlier in the week, she said, “I am healthy and have trained hard over the past few months. I am ready to go for a sixth world title in Tokyo! Brussels is a crucial meeting for me. Good training alone is not enough; you also have to be able to apply it effectively in competition. I want to nail my start on Friday, and I also want to see other technical details that I have worked hard on translating into a competitive advantage. A fast time on Friday would certainly be a confidence booster, but the most important thing is the technical execution. Then the fast time will come naturally. I love racing against other top athletes; it brings out the best in me.
“People sometimes ask me if I still have anything to lose at 38, with my track record. Of course I do! However, I prefer to discuss what I have to gain. I’m a fierce competitor; my only goal is to win, even at 38. If I didn’t believe it was possible, I wouldn’t be doing this anymore. My secret? There is no secret. My training discipline has taken me this far, and I derive immense joy from the sport. I enjoy it immensely and am very grateful for everything I have achieved in my career and the experiences I have had.
“After the disappointing Paris Games, I took my time to recover and rebuild. I am healthy and have trained hard over the past few months. I am ready to go!”
