Jamaica’s sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce received one of the highest honours on Thursday when Mayor of Kingston Councillor Andrew Swaby awarded her the symbolic Key to the City and officially renamed Ashoka Road in Waterhouse in her honour. The acts of recognition celebrate her extraordinary contributions to sports and society, ensuring that her legacy can inspire generations.

Fraser-Pryce, raised in Waterhouse, St Andrew, is a proud alumna of Wolmer’s Girls’ High School in Kingston. She was deeply moved during a handing over ceremony held inside the Douglas Orane Auditorium at Wolmer’s.

“I am feeling good. It is definitely a tremendous honour to be recognised in such a way. Being from Kingston and Waterhouse, and having attended Wolmer’s, this is definitely a highlight of the year for me,” she said.

“Coming back to where everything started and just having this recognition gives me hope that other athletes or individuals will understand the importance of coming together as a country and realising that they, too, have a chance to be successful in their respective fields,” Fraser-Pryce noted.

A three-time Olympic Games gold medallist and five-time world 100m champion, Fraser-Pryce is not only known for her blistering speed on the track, but also for her charisma and grace.

“Honestly, the way I live my life is to make sure that my character speaks for itself. I understand that I am no different from anyone else. It’s all about treating people with humility and recognising that we all come from different places. We will cross paths in different areas of our lives, and it’s about how I can help you and how you can help me,” she stated.

Mayor Swaby, the chairman of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), praised Fraser-Pryce’s incredible journey and contributions to Jamaica.

“It is with great joy that the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation presents her with the Key to the City, an honour reserved for those who have made extraordinary contributions to the nation. This is not a distinction handed out lightly. It is given only to those who have left an enduring impact on our country and our people.”

Swaby further explained the process behind the distinguished privileges and emphasised that Fraser-Pryce is more than deserving of these accolades, as she has inspired the nation with her performances on the track.

“The process begins by reaching out to the recipient and asking if they would accept such an honour. A formal recognition is then brought before the KSAMC, debated, passed, and ultimately recorded in the official honours of the KSAMC.

“Shelly-Ann’s story is one of resilience, determination, and excellence. Born and raised on Ashoka Road in Waterhouse, she defied the odds to become one of Jamaica’s greatest sprinters and, I would say, one of the greatest sprinters in the world,” he stated.

The ceremony was attended by leader of the Opposition’s People’s National Party Mark Golding along with Christopher Samuda, president of the Jamaica Olympic Association, Garth Gayle, president of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association, and members of the KSAMC.

This marks the second time Fraser-Pryce has received the Key to the City.

The track star was among several Jamaican athletes, including Usain Bolt, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Melaine Walker and Asafa Powell, who were handed the Key to the City by then Kingston Mayor Desmond McKenzie in 2008.