19 July,2022 08:21 AM IST | Eugene (USA) | AFP
Gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica celebrates after the women’s 100m final in Eugene on Sunday. Pic/Getty Images
To maintain a track career at the top of one's game demands raw ability, good coaching and a drive that supersedes all. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has that in spades and on Sunday once again demonstrated her steely desire and sprinting prowess as she bagged a record fifth world women's 100m title.
"The secret behind my success is that I am a competitor, I love to compete and I believe God has given me a gift," said the 35-year-old.
At Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, she raced home in her trademark dyed flowing locks in a championship record of 10.67 seconds.
Teammate Shericka Jackson took silver in a personal best of 10.73sec, with four-time Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson-Herah claiming bronze (10.81).
What stands out is Fraser-Pryce's winning time: that is to say that at the age of 35, she bagged a fifth gold in a faster time than when she was won in 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2019. No matter how you look at it, that is an astonishing accomplishment.
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"I somehow feel special," she said. "I always want to compete and show the work that I have been doing. I'm hard-working, keen, driven and always hungry to do more. It's special, it's my fifth world title in the 100m, and doing it at 35, yes I said 35!
"A lot of times people talk about my age or being a mother, but I think of it as part of the journey in life. And instead of thinking of it as something that will negatively affect me, I look at it as a positive experience," she added.
With her sights now firmly set on the women's 200m, Fraser-Pryce fired out a warning shot to rivals as she eyed a sprint double. "I definitely believe I can run faster and once I have that belief I'm not going to stop until I do it," the Jamaican said.
"I've always just trusted myself and my coach and believed in my abilities and once I'm healthy I'm always going to compete." Fraser-Pryce said predictions of the Jamaican sweep had been well founded.
"It was definitely something on the cards!" she said. "I'm glad I was the one who finished first in the sweep and I'm glad the other ladies came through and we were able to celebrate the 1-2-3," se remarked.
