Fraser-Pryce focused on self

PARIS, France:

Decorated sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce knows that the women's 100 metres will be tough, and that means she will have to work very hard if she wants to leave Paris with a medal in her last Olympic Games.

The two-time Olympic champion and five-time World Championship gold medallist over the shortest sprint wouldn't have it any other way and will be exhibiting her usual tunnel vision in Paris.

Fraser-Pryce will begin that medal quest on Friday, when the first round of the women's 100m begins, with Jamaica looking to keep hold of the crown that Fraser-Pryce first secured back in 2008.

Back then, she became the first Caribbean woman to win Olympic gold in the women's 100 metres.

Since then, no other country has been able to wrestle the Olympic Games' women's 100m title away from Jamaica, partially due to Fraser-Pryce winning in Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

In the past two Olympic Games, Fraser-Pryce's countrywoman Elaine Thompson Herah secured a piece of history of her own, by becoming the first woman to win back-to-back 100m, 200m sprint double.

Fraser-Pryce has a lifetime best of 10.60 seconds over the 100m, which was recorded in 2021, the same year she recorded her fastest time over 200m, 21.79.

Fraser-Pryce's 10.60 seconds makes her the third-fastest woman ever, following American world record holder Florence Griffith-Joyner's 10.49 and Thompson Herah's 10.54.

At 37 years old, the champion sprinter has raced sparingly this season as she works hard to preserve her body and stay fit for the big moment. She opened her campaign at an All Comers meet inside the National Stadium and showed improved form at the Jamaica National Junior and Senior Athletics Championships, where she went as fast as 10.91 seconds, and later returned 10.94 to secure third place and an individual spot on the team to Paris.

There has been an emergence of very talented local and international challengers since then, headed by American Sha'Carri Richardson, with a world lead of 10.71 at Hayward Field in June; countrywoman Shericka Jackson, with a 10.65 PB; Cote d'Ivoire's Marie-Josee TA LOU, with a PB of 10.72; and St Lucian Julien Aldred, who clocked 10.78 at the National Stadium in Kingston in June.

Fraser-Pryce, though, is focused on ensuring she is ready for one more big Olympic moment. And despite who else will be lining up in Paris, the 'Pocket Rocket', as she is called because of her stature and explosive start, will be paying full attention on herself.

"The field is always tough. It is the Olympic Games. Every four years whenever anybody lines up, it is really about doing their best, because for some people this is one shot because the Olympics are four years," Fraser-Pryce said.

"So for me, I am always of the expectation that it is going to be competition, no matter where I am at; whether it is an Olympic Games or a World Championships or a track meet, it's going to be competitive. So you have to have that in your head space, get on the line, and make sure that you are focused on yourself."

Fraser-Pryce has had time to soak in the Olympic experience, and has a bit more appreciation of the journey that she has taken in her career. Chasing a ninth Olympic medal, Fraser-Pryce says she doesn't take for granted how blessed she is to be in this moment.

"When I look back at it, I was like, it is crazy to even think about. The fact that it has been five straight Olympic Games is even more crazy. It is just a blessing, and how God has been good to me and how much He has kept me," Fraser-Pryce said.