Fraser kicks off ‘Beater Jeters’ plan
The “Beater Jeters” plan is very much off and running, Olympic and World 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser revealed yesterday as guest speaker at the Sagicor Life Jamaica High Flyers Luncheon held at the Pegasus Hotel.
Fraser, despite winning the gold medal at the 2009 Berlin World Championship in 10.73 seconds, had to play second fiddle to American Carmelita Jeters at the end of the track season.
Jeters, 30, the World Championship bronze medalist, ran some astonishing times, including 10.67 seconds to win the World Athletics Final and 10.64 seconds at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix soon after.
“As you have seen, Carmelita has set the bar and the standard really high, so I’m guessing that all female sprinters will be looking forward to next year,” Fraser told the Observer.
She added: “I’m not at all concerned because there are new things to bring to the table. I’m just staying grounded and following my coach’s instructions.”
Fraser, 22, who is the only female sprinter to hold both World and Olympic 100m titles simultaneously, enthralled everyone as guest speaker with her honest, open and motivating speech, gripping the audience for over 30 minutes.
“I am shy until I start talk, talk, talk and I can’t stop,” she said bursting into laughter. “But I won’t bore you”.
The Olympic champion told her life story from her financial struggles in the impoverished community of Waterhouse to being recognised as the fastest woman on the planet.
“I would like to see a show of hands from anyone here who in the last five or 10 years when circumstances were not so good and somebody told you, you would make it, but you held your head high and strived for excellence,” she asked.
“I grew up in Waterhouse and it was somewhat depressing at the end of the day. Sometimes I would just stay out and go in as late as possible. But I’m proud of my mother because it was really, really hard for her,” Fraser recalled.
“It was hardship, but I still overcome because I knew that things would be better,” said the God-fearing sprinter.
Life insurance giant Sagicor Life Jamaica (formerly Life of Jamaica) was hosting their agents and clients at the usual High Flyer luncheon of appreciation.
Richard Byles, president and CEO, while presenting Fraser with a gift token, said in his years of hosting these luncheons, Fraser was the best speaker he had come across.
“We have had all kinds of big shots address us… but I’ve never found one as interesting as Shelly-Ann,” said Byles as applause rang out.
“There were so many lessons in life and I sat there totally enraptured. Shelly-Ann, you are a wonderful speaker and we are so proud of you,” said Byles.
