‘An Inspiration to All Women’ - Masai Russel sends Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Emotional Tribute

Ahead of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's impending retirement, Masai Russel has sent heartfelt tribute to the legendary Jamaican athlete.

In a heartfelt moment that resonated far beyond the track, U.S. hurdler Masai Russell took a pause from competition talk to honor one of her greatest inspirations: Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Fraser-Pryce is preparing to bring her storied career to a close following the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September.

Fraser-Pryce, a five-time world 100m champion and one of the most decorated sprinters in history, confirmed earlier this summer that the 2025 World Championships would be her final major competition. 

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After finishing third behind rising stars Tina Clayton and Shericka Jackson at the Jamaican national trials in Kingston, she earned a well-deserved spot on the national team—her last appearance on home soil.

Now Russell, who won the Olympic gold medal in the 100 meter hurdles at the 2024 Olympic games, has described Fraser-Pryce as an inspiration to many women considering her longevity.

An Inspiration to All Women in Sports - Masai Russell

“First of all, I’m a fan,” Russell began on Katelyn Hutchinson's YouTube Channel. “We’ve never met, but I’m a fan of you.”

What followed was a deeply genuine message of admiration for the woman many call the “GOAT” — the greatest of all time.

“If I can say anything to you,” Russell continued, “I’d just say how much of an inspiration you’ve been to women in sports.”

Reflecting on her own journey, Russell recalled the mindset shift after winning her first Olympic gold medal — and how watching Fraser-Pryce helped her stay hungry.

“You could get complacent,” she admitted, “and then you look at someone like Shelly — she’s done it over and over and over and over again.”

‘She is the GOAT’

With unmatched consistency, Fraser-Pryce has remained at the top of the sprinting world for nearly two decades, defying age and expectations.

“She’s a GOAT. She’s an inspiration. She’s one of my biggest inspirations—one of my track goals for sure,” Russell said. “And she’s still killing it. What is she now, 37? 38, bro.”

The admiration was more than professional—it was personal.

“All I can say is, God bless you,” Russell concluded. “Hello? You have killed the game for so long. That’s all I’m going to say.”

Fraser-Pryce, who continues to inspire generations of athletes, now carries a legacy that reaches far beyond the finish line—and Russell's words are proof of that.