Elaine Thompson-Herah Breaks Silence as She Pays Tribute to Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce: ' I'm Not Ready To Go'

The fastest woman alive, Elaine Thompson-Herah, has opened up about her comeback as she hailed Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce as one of the greatest.

Elaine Thompson-Herah has been out of competition for close to two years due to an Achilles injury, and her comeback had been longed for by her fans.

The five-time Olympic champion returned to the track on Saturday, February 14, finishing an impressive third in the women’s 60m in 7.24s at the Camperdown Classic.

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Speaking after the race, Elaine Thompson-Herah reflected on her return to competitive athletics, expressing deep gratitude for being able to complete her recent race in good health.

The fastest woman alive said that the performance was especially meaningful given the long period of inactivity, describing the race as the culmination of months of preparation and overcoming ‘rust’ from her time away.

Elaine Thompson-Herah highlighted that her approach to competition now is both focused and enjoyable, using races as an extension of her training while emphasising the importance of feeling confident, strong, and pain-free.

She also spoke about the familiar mix of excitement and nerves she experiences before stepping onto the blocks, noting that while the butterflies appear, she has learned to manage them effectively.

She also conveyed a sense of peace and fulfilment at being back on the track, doing what she loves, and looking forward to more competitions in the future.

“First, I have to give God thanks, you know, to carry me that race through healthy. I'm grateful. I'm thankful. I'm satisfied, you know, many more races to come. So that was like months and years of rust. So I'm pretty grateful for that race, of course. I want to have fun. It's pretty much like a part of training,” Elaine Thompson-Herah told reporters in a video shared by Track side with Mel.

“So I want to have fun, work on stuff that I'm working on in practice, and, you know, just to feel good about myself. No pain, of course. So I'm just excited and grateful to take on more races. A little bit. I'm about to fly when I go to the blocks. But during the warm-up, I was more chill, cool.

“But, you know, when it's time to go on the marks and the butterflies kick in. But I do know how to control that, so it was easy for me to control. I am happy. I'm peaceful. I missed it. So I'm just happy to be back here on track, you know, doing what I love.”

Elaine Thompson-Herah also spoke about the challenges of staying away from competition due to her Achilles injury, explaining that she had to take an extended break to recover properly.

Thompson-Herah expressed immense gratitude toward her support team, including her coach, manager, and training staff, for their patience and guidance throughout a difficult period.

Elaine Thompson-Herah also acknowledged the encouragement she has received from fans, emphasising how much their loyalty and positivity have meant to her. She highlighted her determination to remain humble and focused while gradually rebuilding her fitness, stressing that her focus is on enjoying the process, regaining full strength, and returning to the track with the form and confidence she desires.

“It's been hard to stay away from it, but you know, because of my Achilles injury, I have to just take some time off to just, you know, months back again. So I'm just grateful to come out here, my team, my manager, my coach, everybody. I want to give them a big shout-out, a big thank you for being patient with me,” she added.

“You know, it has been a challenging season over the past month. I'm just excited already to do some more races. Thank you for the support and love. You guys have been very patient. I've seen the love positive one. And I must say, I'm just happy and grateful overall for the fans, you know, the true ones.

“And I'm just saying that, you know, I will continue to be humble, hungry, of course, stay patient. And, you know, this is not a heavy one. I will continue to just get my body back in, you know, the body that's lying wants to feel it to be and keep doing what I do and keep having fun.”

Elaine Thompson-Herah further reflected on the impact of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, saying she has paved the way for athletes like her to follow.

She explained that she wants to continue that legacy by setting a benchmark for younger competitors while still pursuing her own goals.

Elaine Thompson-Herah emphasised that she is far from finished with her career and hopes to guide the next generation as she continues to compete and achieve.

She spoke about the mental challenges of maintaining a strong mindset but expressed confidence in her ability to accomplish more.

Thompsin-Herah highlighted that her motivation comes from doing what she loves, enjoying the process, and testing her limits to see how far she can recover and push herself, knowing her true potential.

“Well, I must say she has done a lot for the sport. She had paved the way, and we have followed that footstep. And, you know, I'm here just to do the same as well. We have created history. So I just want to set that barrier for the younger ones as well. I'm still here. I'm not ready to go. So I can also help to pave the way,” she added.

“So I'm here to do that tough one, you know, but I think I have more to accomplish, and I have not accomplished that as yet. So to have that powerful mindset, it has been tough, but you know, I know I have more in store. I don't know what's in store, but I know I have more.

“So I'm just here to just, you know, continue to do what I love, have fun. And what motivates me, you know, is just see how much I can bounce back from this because I know what I'm capable of. So I have to just come out here and just, you know, be humble and satisfied and grateful at the same time, you know, and it's all about having fun, you know, and just give our chance all the time.”