FRASER – PRYCE MARCHING TOWARDS IMMORTALITY

Zero-point-zero-six seconds! You can’t even imagine how little time that is in the scale of normal life but in terms of the women’s 100-metre finals it was the difference between winning the gold medal and finishing third.

It was that fraction of a second that separated Shelly Ann Fraser – Pryce from the eight fastest women ever assembled in a global sprint final. Carmelita Jeter (10.64), Fraser – Pryce (10.70), Veronica Campbell – Brown (10.76), Kelli Ann Baptise (10.84), Alyson Felix (10.92), Blessing Okagbore (10.92), Tiana Madison (10.96) and Murielle Ahoure (10.99) meant that every woman in that final had run faster than 11 seconds. Never before has that been the case. In fact, the London final gave us the fastest third, fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth place times ever. Only Flo Jo’s 10.61 for first in 1988, Kerron’s Stewart’s 10.75 for second at the world championships in 2009 and Merlene Ottey’s 10.88 for fifth in Barcelona in 1992 have been faster; such was the depth and quality of the Olympic final run in London 2012.

I say all this to say that surely now, even though her international career is just about four years old, Shelly Ann Fraser- Pryce must already be in the conversation as to who is Jamaica’s best female sprinter and perhaps the best ever. Notwithstanding the significant accomplishments of Merlene Ottey, who has 23 global outdoor medals and several other indoor medals and Veronica Campbell – Brown who picked up her 15th global outdoor medal when she finished third, SAFP already has three individual gold medals from just four global championships. She is two-time Olympic 100-metre champion and a 100-metre world champion; that’s a win rate of 75 per cent. In her entire career at global championships Ottey won three global gold medals in a career. SAFP already has three, this from only her fourth global championships. She is one behind VCB who has four individual gold medals.

SAFP is already faster than her predecessors 10.70, 10.73, 10.75 and 10.78 when compared to Ottey’s 10.74, 10.78 (twice) and 10.79 and VCB’s 10.76 and 10.78, but it is clearly evident that she is capable of going much faster. Had she executed her race better yesterday 10.65 was not out of the realm of possibility. However, she did what she needed to do to win.

Yes, she is a long way off in terms of longevity but she also could be a long way off from the end of her career as well. Should SAFP go on to medal in the 200-metres or win it, and win at a similar rate as she takes on the rest of the world in Moscow in 2013 and in Beijing in 2015, before before heading into Rio for the 31st Olympiad in 2016 as a 30-year-old, the “Pocket Rocket” would without a doubt be Jamaica’s greatest ever female sprinter. She could by then also be immortalized as perhaps the best ever.

Older Entries

Newer Entries

The opinions on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner.
The Gleaner reserves the right not to publish comments that may be deemed libelous, derogatory or indecent.
To respond to The Gleaner please use the feedback form.

16 Responses to “FRASER – PRYCE MARCHING TOWARDS IMMORTALITY”

ESTEBAN AGOSTO REID says:

August 8, 2012 at 1:03 pm

Shelly Ann is performing extremely well and that is great, but let us see what will happen going forward. Also, your optimism needs to be tempered or checked, somewhat, although, I do understand your reasoning and logic, with respect to Shelly’s potential greatness. But, as you do know, many things can happen between now and when Shelly attains the ripe old age of thirty for a sprinter.And, certainly,there is so much to be done between now and Brazil, plus there are always new sprinters coming on the scene, to make claim for the best. Nonetheless, wishing SAFP all the best, going forward.
Tracey Caesar says:

August 10, 2012 at 7:44 am

The “Pocket Rocket” is great enough to for me. She is the only 4-cylinder in a race of 6-cylinder women. When I see her on SportsMax “Bet You Didn’t Know”, I can only fault her rendition of one of my favorite songs.
Tracey Caesar says:

August 10, 2012 at 7:47 am

The “Pocket Rocket” is great enough for me. She is the only 4-cylinder in a race of 6-cylinder women. When I see her on SportsMax “Bet You Didn’t Know”, I can only fault her rendition of one of my favorite songs. Bet You Didn’t Know I am a Trini to de Bone?
Gail Chung says:

August 10, 2012 at 11:33 am

Levy,
Please read IOC Rogge’s comment on Usains Bolt’s ‘Living Legend’ The Press and our athletes obviously needs the revised English update on superlatives to use for achievement.
Please ask them to publish a list for our poor island ignorance.

So where does ‘Immortality’ fall…..?

They deserve all their accolades.
Gail Chung says:

August 10, 2012 at 11:36 am

The ‘Pocket Rocket’ is good enough for me too!!

Hands up for the woman!
Rick Berns says:

August 11, 2012 at 12:06 am

Shelly is already the greatest sprinter ever to me. But, you cannot compare her results with Merlene Ottey’s. Merlene was not running on a level playing field. Not that the current one is necessarily even, but it was really out of kilt back then. Merlene should have won countless medals at the Olympic and World Champs level, but was cheated out of those results. Shelly is special and my only problem with her is that . . . she is married! >&#@$%
S gordon says:

August 12, 2012 at 4:28 am

Merlene ottey VCB SFP are all great athletes, Merlene ran at a time when drugs was being used so rampantly, Shellyann is running on a more level playing field likewise VCB.VCB always always deliver, so let us give them all the praise they deserve. Merlen dedicated her whole life to the sport,who knows the future for SFP. She might not be there much longer.Lets not count our chickens before they are hatched. Shellyann has not gone to Rio yet.The three women are great in their own rights. lets love them all.
nicole toronto says:

August 12, 2012 at 11:57 am

Shelly has done well on the international and national stage I do hope she continues to dominate in the years to come. I do believe Ottey was cheated out of many medals because the dominant nations were cheating and not releasing the names of those athletes who were tested positive. It is nice to see such a small country like Jamaica with limited resources doing well on the international stage. We have been earning medals since our first appearance at the olympics in 1948 and will continue to do so. Carl Lewis go and research about the history of sprinting in Jamaica. Congratulations to all Jamaicans the winners and those who didnt bring home the medals.
Magda Smith says:

August 14, 2012 at 11:18 am

Its unfortunate that Jamaica does not celebrate its female athletes enough! Shelly-Ann was absolutely fantastic….but everyone is focusing on Usain and Yohan. The women’s 4×100 was not what we expected but it was great too given the field…we need to take off our hat to these our daughters- they are superb!
Phillip Allen says:

August 19, 2012 at 12:56 am

SAFP is good and have that natural speed. Merlene Ottey was great and had longevity. My war horse though is VCB. It seem as if she used every bit of her talent and with dogged determiantion put out her best every time. i think may be she should take some time off and the come back strong for Moscow 2013. I would love to see Sherone Simpson 100% healthy.
Big up to the jamaican sprint queens.
Tyrone Osborne says:

August 20, 2012 at 12:34 am

Shelly is real special as sprinter . I can’t explain the joy i felt when she won the 100m in Beijing. Maybe because she represents a rough neighbourhood in Jamaica and I want so much to see hope for the people. Maybe it is her broad smile, I can’t put my hand on it but it is just one unspeakable joy to see her win! With Good health and God’s blessing I am expecting great things from her. Although new to the 200m she almost beat Alex Felix at the finish line with the improved { Chicken leg }
Shelly Ann is a real inspiration for all Jamaican girls,who can now say ”we can do it.”
Donovan Manh says:

August 29, 2012 at 12:15 pm

In,reply to Phillip Allen: Not only does VCB should take some well deserved time off, but she must seriously consider joining either MVP or Racers. Even if it means toggling back and forth from Miami, where she lives, to Ja. On that note, Kerron should do likewise.
Donovan Manh says:

August 29, 2012 at 12:20 pm

Tyrone, I 1000% agree with you. Shelly lights up the sreeen when she is introduced to the spectators and the viewers can escape her infectious, captivating and gigglily smile. I agree with her coaches assessment, had she executed her race as planned she would have clocked a 10.65+. That means there’s more in the tank for the pocket rocket.
Noel says:

September 1, 2012 at 12:14 pm

We must never forget to congratulate our female athletes. They have done well. Sometimes, I feel we leave them out of our conversation when we talk about our athletes. Shelly, you did well on your first try of the 200m. Did Veronica change her coach?
elaine cold says:

September 11, 2012 at 1:34 pm

I bless the Lord for all Jamaican althletes they did great in the 2012 Olympics and we all are proud of them, I don’t live in Jamaica but I am a yardie and what I learn over years living aboard, that you treat people with respect and be appreciated for the things people do, especially if they represent that country well, whether they lose or win. Jamaicans just love each other and be positive, life and death in the power of the tongue. Peace!
Chuck says:

September 22, 2012 at 6:23 am

Bolt is the best sprinter in the world at this time. I consider the athlete a living legend. We can look forward to more wonderful performances by the young fellow.