Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Withdraws from 100m Semi-Final at Paris Olympics

In a shocking turn of events, decorated sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce withdrew from the women’s 100m semi-final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The news came just moments before the race, with the official system in Paris showing DNS (Did Not Start) next to her name. There has been no official word yet on the reason for Fraser-Pryce’s withdrawal, but reports suggest she suffered a hamstring injury during warm-up. The severity of the injury is unknown at this time.

Earlier, both Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and American sprinter, Sha’Carri Richardson were barred from entering the warm-up area through their usual route, forcing them to take an alternate path just hours before the 100m semi-final.

Fraser-Pryce’s withdrawal further diminishes Jamaica’s medal chances after Elaine Thompson-Herah pulled out of defending her Olympic title in June due to injury, and Shericka Jackson announced earlier this week that she would only be contesting the women’s 200m. 19-year-old Tina Clayton was Jamaica’s lone representative in the women’s 100m finals. Clayton finished 7th in the Women’s 100M Final with a time of 11.04. This was her first Olympic Games.

This is Fraser-Pryce’s fifth and final Olympics, so fans were understandably saddened and disappointed by the news. However, there has been an outpouring of love and support for her online, including a shout-out from Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “To our mommy rocket and decorated Olympian Shelly, we love and adore you!”

Stay tuned for more updates.