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Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is of a contrasting opinion to Asafa Powell with regards to the future of track and field in Jamaica.
Jamaican sprint queen Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has voiced strong confidence in the future of Jamaican track and field, firmly disagreeing with former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell’s concerns over the country's sports governance and support system.
Fraser-Pryce, a five-time world 100m champion, insists that Jamaica’s foundation in athletics is solid, pointing to the nation’s structured youth programs, the fierce competitiveness of its high school system, and the legacy of role models who continue to inspire new generations.
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Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce: Why I am Confident in Jamaica’s Track Future
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Fraser-Pryce was speaking during the pre-race press conference for the upcoming Doha Diamond League classic nearly a week after helping Jamaica clich bronze in the women’s 4 x 100m event at the World Athletics Relays when she praised the upcoming crop of talent.
“You have to be,” she said emphatically when asked if there’s reason to be confident in the next crop of Jamaican athletes.
“If you talk about track and field and you talk about athletics in Jamaica and you see what we've been able to produce over the years, you know that we're in capable hands.”
At the heart of her optimism is "Champs" — the island’s iconic high school championship (boys and girls’ championships) — which has long been a launchpad for sprint legends.
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“You come to our high school championship — it's so strict, it's so rigorous,” she explained. “The training, the competition... so you find that year after year we're going to be producing great athletes coming out of high school.”
While she acknowledges that the transition from high school to professional athletics is not always smooth, Fraser-Pryce is hopeful that with the right coaching and management, more young athletes will successfully rise to the global stage.
Fraser-Pryce helped deliver the gold alongside the Clayton Twins Tia and Tina, who are considered some of the best emerging athletes from the island. Both were only four years old when Fraser-Pryce won gold in the 100 meters at the 2008 Olympics.
“We're hoping that they're linked with the best coaches, the best management, and eventually they'll be able to get to that level,” she said.
She also stressed the power of visible success in shaping ambition: “They have seen athletes like us who continue to dominate, to persevere, to really show up and give our best. So I think those scenarios help to encourage them to understand that they already have a platform. They already have the blueprint.”
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Her unwavering belief comes just weeks after Asafa Powell — the first man to run sub-10 seconds nearly 100 times — suggested that his children may not compete for Jamaica due to what he sees as a broken support system.
Asafa Powell: My Kids Won’t Run For Jamaica if Support System Doesn’t Change
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“So whenever I post videos or anything of the boys doing sports or track, people are always like, ‘Yo, the future looks good’ or ‘Future stars,’” Powell said during a recent vlog on his YouTube channel, The Powells.
“But honestly, guys, if the support system doesn’t change, my kids are not running for Jamaica. Not running for Jamaica. Sorry to say that — but it’s just facts.”
Powell, despite never winning an individual Olympic medal, remains the fourth-fastest man in history and holds the record for the most sub-10-second clockings (97) in the 100m — a record that highlights his consistency and dominance.
Fraser-Pryce, however, remains undeterred by such critiques. She believes Jamaica’s young talents are already equipped to carry the torch forward.
“They already know what we're capable of. They already know we're strong. They already know we're fierce,” she said. “They have all the ingredients that they need to basically pick and choose whichever [route] they want and whoever they want to emulate.”
Citing numerous examples of successful transitions from youth to elite level, she concluded confidently:
“I've seen a lot of our students — our athletes — come year after year, and they have made the transition. So I don't think we have anything to worry about in Jamaica.”
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