Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce confirms last lap at home during National Championships this week
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A chapter of Jamaican sports history will close this week as Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, one of the most decorated and beloved athletes the world has ever known, has announced that this week’s JAAA National Senior Championships will mark her final race inside Kingston’s National Stadium.
2025-06-25 13:31:27 - VI News Staff
In a heartfelt address delivered Monday at an intimate tribute hosted by long-time sponsor Nike at the AC Hotel, the nine-time World Champion and three-time Olympic gold medalist confirmed her farewell to the place where her legendary career was born and flourished.
“In the next two days, it will be my final time gracing the National Stadium,” Fraser-Pryce said, standing before a close-knit gathering of family, friends, government officials, and corporate partners. “It is honestly one of those moments that I’m looking forward to. You know why? Because I have absolutely nothing to lose and all to gain… It is your love and it’s your support and it’s your encouragement that has kept me.”
One last dance in the Stadium that raised a Queen
The National Championships, which begin Thursday and serve as the official trials for Jamaica’s squad to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September, will be the scene of Fraser-Pryce’s farewell. She is scheduled to compete in the women’s 100m preliminaries on Thursday evening, a race that will be far more than just a qualifying heat—it will be a curtain call for a national treasure.
The moment is expected to be emotional, not just for the sprint icon, but for every fan, coach, and aspiring athlete who has drawn strength and inspiration from her journey.