KINGSTON, Jamaica — Five-time women’s 100m gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is not allowing the emotions surrounding her final appearance at a global championships to distract her from her goal, which is to win an individual medal at the Tokyo World Championships.

The 38-year-old Fraser-Pryce, who has won eight individual World Championships medals, including the sprint double gold in Moscow in 2013, says she is locked in and focused on getting the job done when the 100m event is contested over the second and third days of the championships.

“It is my last championships and I think right now, because I’m just so focused on running each round, I don’t want to think about the emotional part of you know, stepping away because those things can interfere with the preparation,” she told Jamaican journalists on the eve of the championships.

Making the Jamaican team, she said, was the first hurdle she had to get over.

“I am just really grateful to be here in this moment, because I’ve said it before, like I’ve passed probably the hardest part, which was making the national team. So being here is such a huge blessing, and I’m really excited about the opportunity to be here and to compete,” she said.

Fraser-Pryce, who made her first senior appearance for Jamaica in 2007 at 19 years old when she ran the relays at the World Championships in Osaka, said, “I think this is going to be an exciting championship, mostly because I’m in a good space. I think mentally, I’m good. My training has been fantastic, and I’m just looking forward to putting the pieces together.”

The third fastest woman of all time with a personal best 10.60 seconds said she had put a difficult 2024 behind her.

“I feel good going into the championship, as I said before, and going into the first round tomorrow. I think for me, the opportunity that presents itself is to execute the first round, and once you execute the first round and get it out the way, you have an idea of where you are, what you need to work on, and take it a day at a time.”

“I don’t want to preempt anything. I want to focus on the rounds and each day and attack those and just, you know, give it my all right then,” she said.

She said her 18 year career had given her some perspective but winning a medal is the aim, stating, “My ultimate goal is to stand on the podium, of course, you know, 2007 when I started my career, it was actually in Japan, you know and I think at that time I was 19, unsure of who I was, what I was doing, the direction I was going in and fast forward to being here in this moment, I know who I am a very capable individual, and trusting that God has more for me.”

Looking back, she said, while a podium spot was her target, she was still very proud of what she had accomplished. “I think in this moment I want to stand on the podium, that’s just it, but at the same time, whatever happens, I’m walking away feeling confident and happy for all that I’ve achieved. Because I’m sure if you would have put me being here at this point, a lot of persons would have thought this wouldn’t be possible. So I have already, I think, you know, over exceeded my own expectations, or anybody else’s expectations. So, you know, really grateful.”

— Paul A Reid