Fraser-Pryce wins fourth women’s 100 metres world title
Fraser-Pryce wins fourth women’s 100 metres world title
Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won her record fourth women’s 100 metres world title in Doha on Sunday in stunning style.
The 32-year-old
— also a two-time Olympic champion — coasted to an
Fraser-Pryce
— who had dyed her hair a multi-coloured mix — punched the air in front of the
Jamiacan team seated in the stands before taking a national flag from them. She
collected her two-year-old son Zyon — he was born the day after the 2017
championships had finished which prevented her from defending her title in
London — and paraded with him round the track sadly in front of largely empty
stands. “To be standing here as world champion again after having my baby, I am
elated,” said Fraser-Pryce.
“The females
keep showing up. We love to put on a performance and for me I am just really
happy to come away with the win.” Fraser-Pryce, who announced her talent when
she took Olympic gold 11 years ago in Beijing, confessed that eve of final
nerves had got to her. “I had no sleep last night. Last time I was at a major
championship was in 2016 and that feeling of ‘oh my God I need bed’ – it was
just not happening. “For me it is just experience and knowing some days will be
good but mental toughness will get me through.”
Fraser-Pryce,
who won her first world 100m title in 2009, said having Zyon had given her a
real boost even though he is yet to show the same aptitude having refused to
start his first race at nursery school ealrier this year. “My son Zyon has been
my strength, my family and husband have been my strength,” she said. “Having my
son and coming back, performing the way I did, I hope I can give inspiration to
all the women starting family or thinking of starting a family. “You can do
anything. It’s about who you are and why you started in the first place.”
– ‘Absolute
legend’ – Britain’s European champion Dina Asher-Smith took silver in a
national record of 10.83 seconds whilst 2017 silver medalist Marie-Josee Ta Lou
took the bronze in 10.90. Asher-Smith — who in the London 2012 Olympics carried
the kit of athletes competing in the track and field and was inspired by
heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill — said she hoped the silver would be the
launchpad for greater things. “I worked so hard for this, for this
championship, and hopefully I’ll go on to do bigger things,” she said. “When I
stood on the line I was thinking right, this is your time to go. “A personal
best, a national record — that is more than you can ask for in a final.
“Shelly-Ann did a fantastic performance and that’s why she’s an absolute
legend. I am happy!” Fraser-Pryce will now bid to become the first woman to
achieve a second world sprint double in the 200m having pulled that off in
Moscow in 2013.
Her path may
have been eased somewhat by the withdrawal from the 100m final by two-time
defending champion Dafne Schippers, who made it to the warm-up track but no
further. Another of her rivals, compatriot Elaine Thompson will seek to gain
her revenge after finishing just outside the medals on Sunday in fourth spot. A
new champion was assured when name defending titleholder Tori Bowie scratched
from her semi-final on what was a disastrous evening for the American quartet.
National champion Teahna Daniels was the only one to reach the final and she
finished seventh and last.
WISDOM
YARD ONLINE TV…
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