WATCH: OJ recipient Fraser-Pryce hopes to inspire girls to strive towards greatness
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Order of Jamaica (OJ) recipient, sprint queen Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce hopes that her award inspires Jamaican girls, particularly those in her native Waterhouse, into believing that they too can achieve greatness.
The double Olympic and multiple world 100-metre champion received the nation’s fifth-highest honour at the annual National Honours and Awards Ceremony at King’s House on Heroes’ Day. She was among 143 Jamaicans who received national honours on Monday.
Speaking with journalists afterwards, Fraser-Pryce said she was excited about the award for the little girls who look up to her as a role model.
“I think for many young girls in my community, especially, I am excited for this moment for them because I am giving them the hope to dream and realise that they too can achieve great things,” Fraser-Pryce said.
She also said it always an honour to be celebrated by Jamaica and said she was looking forward to continuing “to put Jamaica at the forefront.”
Highly regarded as one of the greatest sprinters of all time, Fraser-Pryce won her fifth women’s 100-metre title last summer at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, United States.
She first burst onto the athletics scene at the Beijing Olympics games, where she grabbed the coveted gold medal in her first 100-metre international track final. She defended that title in 2012, following up with a bronze in 2016 and a silver just last year at the Tokyo Olympics.
Nine other persons were awarded the OJ, which is bestowed on citizens of outstanding distinction.
Among them were: Culture, Entertainment, Sports and Gender Minister, Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange; late business stalwart and founder of the Jamaica Money Market Brokers Ltd (JMMB), Joan Duncan; and renowned Jamaican jazz pianist, Monty Alexander.