Decorated sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce insists she has plenty more left to give, despite heading toward an age that most runners are already retired.
Fraser-Pryce, now 34, entered the Tokyo Olympics as favourite for the 100m title but had to settle for second behind compatriot Elaine Thompson-Herah. In the 200m event, she finished just outside the medals in the fourth position behind Thompson-Herah, Namibia’s Christine Mboma, and the United States’ Gabrielle Thomas.
Despite admitting to some amount of disappointment, Fraser-Pryce who turns 35 at the end of the year expects to press on, for now.
“A lot of persons believe that you’ve reached a certain age, you’ve achieved so much, why do more?” Fraser Pryce said.
In Tokyo, the athlete won her fifth Olympic individual medal, two of which have been gold. In addition, she has five individual World Championship gold medals.
“I believe there’s more to give. As you can see, I ran 21.9, I ran 21.7 earlier at the Jamaica National Champions. I ran 10.6, I’m still running 10.7s. It just shows the power of God and the gift and the talent that I have been given. When I’m ready when it’s time I’m hoping that someone along the way has been inspired.”
The athlete has repeatedly said that she expects next year’s IAAF World Championships in Oregon to be her final major Games appearance.
