Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce ended her glittering World Athletics Championships career with a silver medal in the women’s 4x100m relay in Tokyo on Sunday.
The 38-year-old, known as the “Mommy Rocket,” led off for Jamaica in a duel with the USA’s sprint double champion, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, and handed over to Tia Clayton level with the Americans.
But a sluggish second exchange between the Clayton twins cost Jamaica valuable ground, leaving anchor runner Jonielle Smith unable to reel in Sha’Carri Richardson. The USA clinched gold in 41.75 seconds, with Jamaica narrowly behind in 41.79. Germany took bronze.
The silver brought Fraser-Pryce’s World Championships tally to 17 medals — 10 gold, six silver, and one bronze — second only to Allyson Felix’s 20. However, the Jamaican departs with a record six individual world titles, the most by any sprinter.
It was a fitting full-circle moment, as Fraser-Pryce’s first medal at the Worlds came as a 20-year-old reserve on Jamaica’s 4x100m team in Osaka in 2007, where she also won silver.
“I really wanted to make sure I gave them a great start because I knew we had a good team,” Fraser-Pryce said after the race. “We didn’t get the gold, but we have to be grateful for what we accomplished — and we’re walking away with a medal.”
