TOKYO, Japan — Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s impact on the track, and off, can never be overstated. A transcending force of resilience and sprinting royalty, her majesty’s final show of force was met with fluttering flags and a chorus of admiration as she took the World Athletics Championships stage for the final time.

Legacy intact, crown firmly affixed, Sunday’s goodbye in Japan’s National Stadium during the women’s 100m final was never about winning or losing. For her, it was a moment of gratitude and grace.

“I was asked if I’m going to do one more year, I told the reporter that I’m thinking about it,” she teased.

“I’m really, really grateful that I was able to stand on the track one more time in a 100m final. For me, it has been such a privilege, and an honour, and my greatest blessing, really and truly, to be able to stand here tonight. I came into this championship with so many odds but I made the final — and I think that within itself is a huge accomplishment,” said Fraser-Pryce.

The history-making 38-year-old crossed the line in sixth position in a time of 11.03 seconds, as the win and world title went to American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden in 10.61 seconds — the fastest time ever at a world championships.

Second was another Jamaican, Tina Clayton, who clocked a personal best 10.76 seconds; with Olympic champion, St Lucia’s Julien Alfred, taking third in 10.84.

“I remember 2007, when I started, I was unsure of who I was, what I wanted to do, or anything, but I walked away with so much from the championship. And this time around, I came here with all of those experiences from years of just participating in the championship, and tonight, gracing the track and running with some phenomenal ladies has been a blessing. Even though the result is not something that I would want for myself, I’m still happy that I was able to finish on my own terms because I think last year, Paris really hurt my feelings because I didn’t get to stand on the line,” said Fraser-Pryce in reference to the 2024 Olympics during which she had to withdraw from the semi-finals.

“As an athlete, it doesn’t matter what’s happening leading up to a championship, everybody wants to face the starter, and I didn’t get that privilege — and tonight was also about that. It was really the standing at the line and saying, ‘Yes, I made it.’ And I’m giving God thanks for all that I’ve accomplished, all that He has given me, what He has blessed me with, and just the team overall. So many persons believed more than I did, and I’m grateful for that belief and that support.”

Fraser-Pryce will get an opportunity to add to the 24 medals she has won overall at the World Championships and Olympics level when the 4x100m relays begin later this week.

And while medals have always been important for her, the impact she will leave on the sport is what carries the greatest value.

“One of my greatest blessings is seeing athletes that are inspired by me across generations — because I’ve raced [against] athletes across different generations — so it has been a blessing to interact with those athletes. And I am hoping that there’s something that they can take from this journey and this lesson, that it doesn’t matter how it looks, you have the final say, you stand at the line, you trust the talent that God has given you, and you go out there and you give it to your all. Anything outside of that is noise, and we don’t listen to noise — we focus on what we have to do and we get the job done,” said Fraser-Pryce.

“The love has been phenomenal, the athletes that I’ve met and interacted with have been amazing, and I think, as an athlete, that’s what you want. That’s the impact you want from the sport. That’s the love, and that’s just everything that you want to pass on to athletes that, ‘Yes, we’re here for championship, we want to win medals, but it’s more than just the medal, it’s the relationship, it’s how we relate to each other.’ ”

One such athlete is Clayton, seen by many as the heir apparent to the soon-to-be-vacant Sprint Queen throne — a high school prodigy who dominated her peers and has already taken the first steps towards dominating everybody else.

Clayton’s ascension in Tokyo presented a sense of entrustment, a passing of the torch, and for Fraser-Pryce there was an obvious joy in what came after her own run — the silver medal performance of the 21-year-old.

“It’s more than a step up; this is her first global championship and she walked away with a silver medal. My first global championship was as a 4x100m relay reserve, so that in itself is a huge accomplishment. And, I said it before, she has won back-to-back World Junior Championship titles, she knows what it is to step to the line and to deliver, and I’m happy that she was able to stay in that zone and get the job done, and congrats to her as well,” said Fraser-Pryce before turning her attention to Jackson.

“Shericka probably will not have [felt] how she wanted to feel with the result but all in all, you know, I think you win some, you lose some. Every season has a different season, and we take from it, and we use it to just lead us to the next destination,” she added.

As she takes her leave, Fraser-Pryce’s journey is a reminder that legacy is not only measured in wins and losses, but in impact. In many ways, her greatest gift to the sport was not her legs or her charm, but the lasting effect that her resilience and grace will have on the sport today and tomorrow.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (right) of Jamaica hugs young compatriot Tina Clayton after the women’s 100m final.