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Laying the foundation Fraser-Pryce shortening learning curve for next generation of athletes
September 25, 2026
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is hoping her almost two decades of experience at the highest level of athletics can help shorten the learning curve for Jamaica’s next generation of athletes.
Now one year removed from competitive athletics, the former Olympic and World champion is putting greater energy into advocacy while continuing the work of her Pocket Rocket Foundation.
For Fraser-Pryce, the transition has provided an opportunity to take the knowledge accumulated during an 18-year career and use it to help others navigate a sporting landscape she knows all too well.
“It’s really just using what I have learned over these years to see how best I can help the next girl or the next athlete navigate the space in a successful way, but also a knowledgeable way,” Fraser-Pryce said.
“What would have taken me 10 years, I’m hoping would not take the next girl 10 years; it would maybe take her five years.”
New role
Fraser-Pryce said her new role has allowed her to participate in conversations that extend beyond her own accomplishments, including discussions about the development of athletes in Jamaica and across the Caribbean.
She believes there is no shortage of talent in the region, but said more attention must be given to the systems and resources available to athletes before they reach the international stage.
“I think those things are very important because I believe that Jamaica doesn’t lack talent,” she said. “We have so much talent here in the region, and in Jamaica, primarily. What we lack is the infrastructure and the resources to help develop our athletes.”
Greatest reward
Fraser-Pryce said the foundation’s greatest reward has been seeing recipients develop into well-rounded individuals rather than simply professional athletes.
She has watched former beneficiaries move into professional careers, business, and other areas of life, reinforcing her belief that the foundation’s impact extends far beyond the sporting arena.
“I have personally seen the growth, and I’ve seen a lot of our recipients go from student-athletes to professionals, to being married, to doing all different sorts of things,” she said.
Broader development
That broader development, she says, is the real measure of the foundation’s success.
She also wants her advocacy to encourage more organisations to invest in athletes while they are still developing, rather than waiting until they have achieved international success.
“It’s very important that we advocate for the next generation in the best way possible because, as I said before, we don’t lack talent; what we lack is infrastructure and resources,” she said.
“We need an ecosystem that’s not only qualified, but they’re able to nurture the athletes and support the athletes 100 per cent and give them the platform.”
