Paris 2024: Sha'Carri Richardson and Fraser-Pryce denied entry into warmup track minutes before their semifinal race
World 100m champion Sha'Carri Richardson and legendary Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce faced the biggest shock of their lives when they were denied entry into the warm-up track minutes before their semifinal race at Paris 2024 Olympics.
Videos circulating online show Fraser-Pryce and Richardson being held at the gate and not granted to the warmup area, just because they didn't arrive with their team buses.
From reports, the duo aren't staying at the games village as they've lodged in separate hotels to offer them maximum concentration away from activities going on during the Olympics, hence they do not arrive with their team buses to the stadium.
"She said dem change the rule yesterday," said Fraser-Pryce while explaining to a bus driver arriving at the stadium.
"Why will they change the rule and not say? So you're asking all the athletes who for whatever reason don't stay in the village, they can't come through in here? We came through this gate yesterday and went through all security and it was okay...That's crazy"
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce 🇯🇲 voicing out over a change of rules between yesterday & today.
— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) August 3, 2024
She is supposedly not being allowed into the warmup area.#Paris2024  pic.twitter.com/auANpTeuda
In another video, Richardson was seen trying to persuade the officials to let her in while Fraser-Pryce walked out in annoyance at the whole situation.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce 🇯🇲 and Sha'carri Richardson 🇺🇸 are not being allowed into the warmup area in Paris through their normal route!
— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) August 3, 2024
They have to go another distance to get into the warmup area. Their 100m semis is this evening.#Paris2024   pic.twitter.com/u0PYQvw6lv
Both track stars are in a stacked semifinal race tagged the 'heat of death' as they'll be up against fastest qualifier Marie Josee Ta Lou-Smith, with only two automatic guaranteed spots in the final.