Shelly-Ann Fraser
Encyclopedia
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, OD
(born December 27, 1986) is a Jamaica
n sprinter, who specializes in the 100 m
. Born in Kingston
, Jamaica, Fraser is the reigning Olympic
champion over 100 m, clocking a time of 10.78. The 2009 World 100 m champion
, she is only the second female sprinter to hold both World and Olympic 100 m titles simultaneously (after Gail Devers
), and is tied with Christine Arron as the fourth fastest woman in history over 100 m. She attended the Wolmer's High School for Girls and represented her school in many athletic occasions.
, became the first Jamaican woman in history to win an Olympic gold medal
in the 100 m sprint. In her first round heat, she placed first in a time of 11.35 to advance to the second round. She then improved her time to 11.06 seconds, finishing first in her heat. In the semifinals Fraser again finished in front, outsprinting Kerron Stewart
and Muna Lee in 11.00 seconds.
In the final, Jamaican sprinters finished in the top three positions in the race, with a photographic tie for second place by Sherone Simpson
and Kerron Stewart
. (Both women were awarded silver medal
s; no bronze medal
was awarded.) Fraser's time of 10.78 seconds was a personal best and 0.20 seconds faster than her Jamaican teammates. Fraser's Olympic time was the second-fastest 100 m ever recorded by a Jamaican woman, a mere 0.04 seconds (1/25 of a second) shy of Merlene Ottey
's 10.74 record.
Together with Sheri-Ann Brooks
, Aleen Bailey
and Veronica Campbell-Brown, Fraser also took part in the 4 x 100 m relay
. In its first round heat, Jamaica placed first in front of Russia
, Germany
and China
. The Jamaica relay's time of 42.24 seconds was the first time overall out of sixteen participating nations. With this result, Jamaica qualified for the final, replacing Brooks
and Bailey
with Simpson
and Stewart
. Jamaica did not finish the race due to a mistake in the baton exchange.
.
Fraser took full advantage, holding off a late surge (and personal best) from compatriot Kerron Stewart
, who had a slow start, to win by two one-hundredths of a second in a time of 10.73. – the fourth fastest time in the event's history and a Jamaican national record.
She later ran the second leg on the Jamaican 4x 100 m relay team. Fraser ran an outstanding back-straight out running athletes like Chandra Sturrup
of the Bahamas, Anne Mollinger
of Germany
and Kelly-Ann Baptiste
of Trinidad and Tobago
, with a successful change over to Aleen Bailey
. The Jamaican team eventually claimed the gold medal in a time of 42.06 with the Bahamas claiming silver and Germany
claiming bronze.
in the IAAF Diamond League
, Fraser tested positive for a banned substance after using medication for toothache. In October 2010, she was subsequently suspended for six months.
Order of distinction
The Order of Distinction in Jamaica is the fifth in order of precedence of the Orders of Societies of Honour, which were instituted by an Act of Parliament – The National Honours and Awards Act.The Motto of the Order is "Distinction Through Service"....
(born December 27, 1986) is a Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n sprinter, who specializes in the 100 m
100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
. Born in Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, Jamaica, Fraser is the reigning Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
champion over 100 m, clocking a time of 10.78. The 2009 World 100 m champion
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
, she is only the second female sprinter to hold both World and Olympic 100 m titles simultaneously (after Gail Devers
Gail Devers
Yolanda Gail Devers is a retired three-time Olympic champion in track and field for the US Olympic Team. Devers was born in Seattle, Washington, and grew up near National City, California and graduated from Sweetwater High School in 1984...
), and is tied with Christine Arron as the fourth fastest woman in history over 100 m. She attended the Wolmer's High School for Girls and represented her school in many athletic occasions.
2008 Beijing Olympics
Fraser, who trained for the Olympics with teammate Asafa PowellAsafa Powell
Asafa Powell C.D is a Jamaican sprinter who specialises in the 100 metres. He held the 100 m world record between June 2005 and May 2008, with times of 9.77 and 9.74 seconds respectively. Powell has consistently broken the 10-second barrier in competition, with his personal best of...
, became the first Jamaican woman in history to win an Olympic gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in the 100 m sprint. In her first round heat, she placed first in a time of 11.35 to advance to the second round. She then improved her time to 11.06 seconds, finishing first in her heat. In the semifinals Fraser again finished in front, outsprinting Kerron Stewart
Kerron Stewart
Kerron Stewart is a Jamaican sprinter who specializes in the 100 metres and 200 metres. She is the 2008 Jamaican national champion in the 100 m clocking 10.80s. She defeated World Champion Veronica Campbell-Brown in the process and now is the 2008 Summer Olympics silver medalist after she...
and Muna Lee in 11.00 seconds.
In the final, Jamaican sprinters finished in the top three positions in the race, with a photographic tie for second place by Sherone Simpson
Sherone Simpson
Sherone Simpson is a track and field sprint athlete, competing internationally for Jamaica. She is a gold medalist in the 4 x 100 meter relay from the 2004 Olympics and silver medalist in 2005 World Championships and now is the silver medalist in the individual event at the 2008 Summer Olympics...
and Kerron Stewart
Kerron Stewart
Kerron Stewart is a Jamaican sprinter who specializes in the 100 metres and 200 metres. She is the 2008 Jamaican national champion in the 100 m clocking 10.80s. She defeated World Champion Veronica Campbell-Brown in the process and now is the 2008 Summer Olympics silver medalist after she...
. (Both women were awarded silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
s; no bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
was awarded.) Fraser's time of 10.78 seconds was a personal best and 0.20 seconds faster than her Jamaican teammates. Fraser's Olympic time was the second-fastest 100 m ever recorded by a Jamaican woman, a mere 0.04 seconds (1/25 of a second) shy of Merlene Ottey
Merlene Ottey
Merlene Joyce Ottey , is a Jamaican-born Slovenian track athlete. Ottey began her career representing Jamaica, but since 2002, has represented Slovenia, where she now resides...
's 10.74 record.
Together with Sheri-Ann Brooks
Sheri-Ann Brooks
Sheri-Ann Brooks is a Jamaican sprinter, who specializes in the 100 metres.Brooks represented the Jamaica at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She competed at the 4 x 100 metres relay together with Shelly-Ann Fraser, Aleen Bailey and Veronica Campbell-Brown...
, Aleen Bailey
Aleen Bailey
Aleen Bailey is a track and field sprint specialist, competing internationally for Jamaica. She competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics and won the gold medal as a member of the 4 x 100 m relay team...
and Veronica Campbell-Brown, Fraser also took part in the 4 x 100 m relay
4 x 100 metres relay
The 4 × 100 metres relay or sprint relay is an athletics track event run in lanes over one lap of the track with four runners completing 100 metres each. The first runners begin in the same stagger as for the individual 400 m race...
. In its first round heat, Jamaica placed first in front of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. The Jamaica relay's time of 42.24 seconds was the first time overall out of sixteen participating nations. With this result, Jamaica qualified for the final, replacing Brooks
Sheri-Ann Brooks
Sheri-Ann Brooks is a Jamaican sprinter, who specializes in the 100 metres.Brooks represented the Jamaica at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She competed at the 4 x 100 metres relay together with Shelly-Ann Fraser, Aleen Bailey and Veronica Campbell-Brown...
and Bailey
Aleen Bailey
Aleen Bailey is a track and field sprint specialist, competing internationally for Jamaica. She competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics and won the gold medal as a member of the 4 x 100 m relay team...
with Simpson
Sherone Simpson
Sherone Simpson is a track and field sprint athlete, competing internationally for Jamaica. She is a gold medalist in the 4 x 100 meter relay from the 2004 Olympics and silver medalist in 2005 World Championships and now is the silver medalist in the individual event at the 2008 Summer Olympics...
and Stewart
Kerron Stewart
Kerron Stewart is a Jamaican sprinter who specializes in the 100 metres and 200 metres. She is the 2008 Jamaican national champion in the 100 m clocking 10.80s. She defeated World Champion Veronica Campbell-Brown in the process and now is the 2008 Summer Olympics silver medalist after she...
. Jamaica did not finish the race due to a mistake in the baton exchange.
2009 Berlin World Championships
Fraser took the 100 m Jamaican title in June 2009, winning with a world-leading time of 10.88 s against a strong headwind (−1.5 m/s). This made her the number one Jamaican qualifier for the 2009 World Championships2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
.
Fraser took full advantage, holding off a late surge (and personal best) from compatriot Kerron Stewart
Kerron Stewart
Kerron Stewart is a Jamaican sprinter who specializes in the 100 metres and 200 metres. She is the 2008 Jamaican national champion in the 100 m clocking 10.80s. She defeated World Champion Veronica Campbell-Brown in the process and now is the 2008 Summer Olympics silver medalist after she...
, who had a slow start, to win by two one-hundredths of a second in a time of 10.73. – the fourth fastest time in the event's history and a Jamaican national record.
She later ran the second leg on the Jamaican 4x 100 m relay team. Fraser ran an outstanding back-straight out running athletes like Chandra Sturrup
Chandra Sturrup
Chandra Sturrup is a Bahamian track and field sprint athlete. She is a 100 m specialist and the Bahamian national record holder for the women's 100 meter dash with a personal best of 10.84 seconds set in Lausanne, Switzerland on July 5, 2005...
of the Bahamas, Anne Mollinger
Anne Möllinger
Anne Möllinger is a track and field sprint athlete who competes internationally for Germany.Möllinger represented Germany at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. She competed at the 4x100 metres relay together with Verena Sailer, Cathleen Tschirch and Marion Wagner...
of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Kelly-Ann Baptiste
Kelly-Ann Baptiste
Kelly-Ann Kaylene Baptiste is a track and field sprint athlete who competes internationally for Trinidad and Tobago.-Junior:...
of Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
, with a successful change over to Aleen Bailey
Aleen Bailey
Aleen Bailey is a track and field sprint specialist, competing internationally for Jamaica. She competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics and won the gold medal as a member of the 4 x 100 m relay team...
. The Jamaican team eventually claimed the gold medal in a time of 42.06 with the Bahamas claiming silver and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
claiming bronze.
2010: Off-the-track
Fraser was named as the first UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador for Jamaica on February 22. On February 23, she was named Grace Goodwill Ambassador for Peace for 2010 in a partnership with Grace Foods and not-for-profit Organisation PALS (Peace and Love in Society). On May 23, at the Shanghai meetShanghai Golden Grand Prix
The Shanghai Golden Grand Prix is an annual athletics event at the Shanghai Stadium in Shanghai, PR China as part of the IAAF Diamond League. The meeting has had its inaugural edition in 2005...
in the IAAF Diamond League
IAAF Diamond League
The Samsung Diamond League is an annual series of track and field meetings held from 2010 onwards, beginning with the 2010 IAAF Diamond League...
, Fraser tested positive for a banned substance after using medication for toothache. In October 2010, she was subsequently suspended for six months.