'I Was So Intimidated' - Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Reflects on Her Journey as She Inspires Jamaica's Next Sprint Queens

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has backed the Clayton twins, Tia and Tina, to dominate for years to come as she compared them to herself when she made he world stage debut at the 2007 World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan.

At 21, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce competed in the women’s 4x100m relay, which won silver and has never looked back since then, something she wants the young generation to learn.

Speaking to the Jamaica Gleaner after arriving in the Caribbean Nation from the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce also paid tribute to the athletes who competed before and during her career, hoping her legacy will inspire future generations.

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She competed in the women’s 100m and reached the final, where she placed sixth before competing in the women’s 4x100m relay and won a silver medal behind Team USA.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce noted that the moment felt like coming full circle, recalling a similar reception at the same airport after her first senior competition. She expressed gratitude to her country for celebrating another milestone with her.

The 36-year-old hopes her remarkable journey, particularly her return to the top after giving birth and overcoming a series of injuries, will inspire others facing their own challenges.

"We are all chasing something, we all have a dream, and we are all looking for more. If you only start, it’s just a start. I know many people are afraid to start, but sometimes our blessings are wrapped in obstacles and hurdles. They don’t last forever, and it is up to us to find our way through them," Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce revealed.

“And yes, you're going to be 21, you're going to be 30, and all the other ages, but as far as I am concerned, nobody can tell you where and how, only you. To be able to share the moment with upcoming queens was also remarkable.

“I remember in 2007 when I started in Osaka, I was so intimidated by all the other athletes, and I don’t think it’s any fault of theirs, it’s just how I looked at myself at that time. I hope that with me there in that moment, they will feel inspired and understand that there is so much more for them to achieve.”

When Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce passed the baton to Tia Clayton in the women’s 4x100m relay at the World Athletics Championships, she was certain her decision to step away from the sport's biggest stage was the right one.

"When I stepped off the track on Sunday night in the pouring rain, I could actually say, 'I emptied it and left it all' on the track," Fraser-Pryce added.

As Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce bows out from the world stage, her faith in the Clayton twins and the next generation reflects not just the end of an era, but the beginning of another.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce hopes the new generation will be defined by courage, consistency, and the same spirit that made her a global icon.