'The Future Is Female' - Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Hails Women's Growth in Sport After Serena Williams Honour

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'The Future Is Female' - Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Hails Women's Growth in Sport After Serena Williams Honour

Abigael Wafula 10:01 - 14.10.2025

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce reflected on her legacy and praised the growing recognition of women in sport after being honoured by Serena Williams at the Athlos event.

Jamaican sprint icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has praised the efforts behind Athlos, the women-only sporting event founded by Alexis Ohanian.

The second edition of the event, held on October 10, followed last year’s successful debut. During the ceremony, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who recently announced her retirement, was honoured and crowned by tennis legend Serena Williams.

Speaking to FloTrack, the decorated sprinter expressed her gratitude for the recognition and emphasised the importance of celebrating women’s achievements in sports.

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Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce: I Am Glad That We Are Tapping into That

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce expressed her belief that the future of sport belongs to women and praised the growing recognition of female athletes.

She noted that it was encouraging to see more efforts being made to celebrate women’s achievements and share their stories, adding that each athlete has a unique journey worth telling.

The five-time world 100m champion emphasised that, despite competing against one another, women in sport form a united front, driving collective change and inspiring the next generation.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Begins Her Next Chapter
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Begins Her Next Chapter

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce further stated that women deserve to be celebrated without unnecessary difficulty and was pleased to see platforms emerging that finally make that possible.

“I would like to say the future is female. The future is speed, you know, and I'm glad that we're tapping into that. I'm glad that we're finally celebrating that, and I'm hoping that we continue to add to that and find ways how we can increase the storytelling of all these women who are here because ultimately, they all have a story,” Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce said.

“Even though we're competing, you know, against each other, I would like to think we are a collective and that we're all driving change as a collective because we are ultimately inspiring the younger generation.

“When their time comes, they'll have something to look forward to, and they'll draw inspiration from that. I'm glad we're seeing the platform that these women have been given because I don't think as women, it should be so difficult to be celebrated.”

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Honest Verdict After Being Crowned by Serena Williams

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce shared that the experience of being honoured at the Athlos event was deeply emotional, describing it as the culmination of years of dedication and hard work throughout her career.

She reflected on how far she has come since beginning her professional journey in 2007, admitting that she never imagined she would one day be celebrated in such a remarkable way.

Serena Williams crowns Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce as queen of sprinting
Serena Williams crowns Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce as queen of sprinting

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce said that athletics had profoundly shaped her life, helping her grow and evolve both on and off the track.

The 10-time world champion expressed her joy at being part of an evening dedicated to celebrating women in sport, calling it a beautiful and powerful moment.

“It's definitely an emotional feeling, you know, to be able to just see the culmination of all the hard work and everything that I've been able to contribute to this sport and being honoured in such a way is truly fantastic,” Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce noted.

“I think it's almost like an invitation to others to really come on board and do more for women athletes because I think we have been showing up for years, over and over, and we've been doing excellent.

“And I think for us, every time a female athlete steps to the line or they step to the pool or whatever they do, it's always 100%. I think it's time we are celebrated for our work ethic and us just being disciplined and focused and coming to the forefront and just owning our skills."

Looking ahead, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce emphasised the importance of continuing to promote conversations around women in sports, noting that female athletes have consistently proven their excellence and commitment over the years.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce concluded by saying that by celebrating women’s success stories, society can help shift the narrative and inspire lasting change both on and off the field.