Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Reveals Why Carmelita Jeter Was Her Toughest Opponent

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has singled out Carmelita Jeter as one of her fiercest rivals as she detailed why the retired American sprint queen tops the list.

The 10-time world champion, speaking at the Brussels Diamond League pre-race press conference, explained that Carmelita Jeter was a one-of-a-kind sprinter.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Carmelita Jeter locked horns on several occasions, and in most of them, they would always push each other to the limits.

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At the 2012 London Olympic Games, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce claimed gold in the women’s 100m and Carmelita Jeter was right behind her as she picked a silver medal.

In the 200m, the Jamaican sprint queen won a silver as Carmelita Jeter picked bronze. The relay saw Carmelita Jeter anchor Team USA to a gold medal ahead of Team Jamaica. At the World Championships and Diamond League Meetings, the trend was the same.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce revealed that Carmelita Jeter, a two-time world champion, never cared who she was lining up against and would always give her all in competitions.

Fraser-Pryce pointed out that Carmelita Jeter always brought out a different kind of energy on the track, and even when they were warming up for races, she would always watch her.

“She was just so fierce. It didn’t matter if I went in the race with the best time, or I was the champion or how many medals I had won, you know, she was just coming,” Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce admitted.

“Everybody knew her technique was so solid, so I always had to make sure that I was technically sound with her. It was just about her aura, what she brought to the line. When she would warm up, I would watch her.”

Carmelita Jeter ended her professional sprinting career in 2017, after an injury in 2016 had sidelined her from the US Olympic Trials and effectively closed her competitive chapter.

On her part, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce hinted that this season would be her final as a competitive athlete as she eyes another shot at making history at the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan in September.