Olympic champion Gabby Thomas paid tribute to Shelly‑Ann Fraser‑Pryce, calling the Jamaican icon a transformative force who reshaped women’s sprinting and inspired a generation of athletes.
A farewell fit for a legend
Fraser‑Pryce bowed out after the Tokyo 2025 World Championships, capping an extraordinary career with a silver in the 4x100m relay — her 17th World Championships podium, 18 years after her first. The record book reads like a love letter to longevity and excellence: three Olympic golds, countless finals and a reputation as one of the greatest female sprinters ever to lace up spikes.
A childhood hero becomes a rival and a muse
Thomas, the Paris Olympics star, described watching Fraser‑Pryce as a formative experience. “I grew up watching Shelly,” she told Olympics.com. “We all knew Shelly‑Ann Fraser‑Pryce. So even being able to compete alongside her was such an honour. And racing against her pushed me to be better.”
For Thomas, the Jamaican’s presence on the track was both a benchmark and a motivator; the kind of competitor who forces others to raise their game.
More than medals — a cultural force
Beyond times and trophies, Thomas highlighted Fraser‑Pryce’s wider impact: her ability to draw attention to the sport, to be adored by fans, and to ignite dreams in young girls worldwide. “She pushed the sport forward. She gave it so much attention, and she was so loved, and she inspired so many young girls like myself,” Thomas said, urging the next generation of sprinters to carry that torch forward.
Thomas plotting her own comeback
Now 29, Thomas herself is plotting a return after an Achilles injury sidelined her for much of 2025. She has signalled a shift toward the 400m this season — a fresh challenge she calls “an opportunity to see what I’m capable of.” If Fraser‑Pryce’s career taught anything, it’s that reinvention and resilience can define a legacy as much as raw speed.
Legacy and the road ahead
Shelly‑Ann Fraser‑Pryce leaves the sport with a catalogue of moments that will be replayed for decades. For athletes like Gabby Thomas, that legacy is both a benchmark and a blueprint: compete fiercely, inspire widely, and never stop pushing the limits of what’s possible on the track.
