‘Mommy rocket’ doubles down on Paris 2024 commitment
The indomitable Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has indicated that track and field fans will be able to watch her perform for at least another two years with her sights on the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
“Mentally I am up for anything, once I am in good shape, and as you know, I am looking forward to going to Paris,” she said after competing at the Velocity Fest Meet at the National Stadium last weekend.
Fraser-Pryce ran her first race of the season, easing through a 200m in which she finished second in 22.79s to Anthonique Strachan of The Bahamas. She was pleased with how the race went on her part.
“I am feeling good. The aim was to…get a run in. I haven’t raced in a while, so it was good to come and have a good race.
“It’s very early [in the season], this is part of the process. There are no medals handed out at these races. You just have to work on what you need to do to have a complete race, and I think I have done that.”
“Once you are training and you are doing well, you set goals for yourself. Last year I opened with 23 and I went on to run 21.7, so it’s a later starting season and I have run 22.7, so I am feeling good,” she explained.
On the back of a really good season in 2021, during which she dipped below the 10.70s in the 100m for the first time, the reigning 100m World Champion has set her sights on going even faster this year.
“To run 10.6 after having that season last year, it has definitely opened a new door for me, in terms of the dreams and the goals that I’m chasing for this season.
“I am definitely looking forward to running 10.5 and possibly 10.4, so that’s the aim, and I think I am on point to do that. I just have to continue to trust that God will give me the strength. I have to trust in the coach and continue to put in the work.”
Fraser-Pryce is the marquee athlete at her current club, Elite Performance Track Club, but she has been joined by some other high-profile athletes in recent times and she is delighted to have them along.
“It’s good to have training partners that have similar mindset, in terms of the work and what is required to be successful. I think when you have teammates like those, you come to training in the morning and you feel a little down or something is not happening, their work ethic also motivates you to put that work in.
“The vibe is good, the environment is good…it’s a great group and I am really in an expectant mood for them also, as clubmates.”
Fraser-Pryce said she is trying to stay fresh for the World Championships in Oregon in July.
“I have to make sure that I am vey cautious in the amount of races that I run and, of course, the goal is to defend the title in Oregon,” she stated.