Fraser Pryce – Jamaica’s Golden Girl

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is the first Jamaican woman to win the 100-meter Olympic gold medal.  She achieved this feat twice – first in 2008 and again in 2012.

 Shelly-Ann Fraser was born in December 1986 in Kingston, Jamaica to parents Orane Fraser and Maxine Simpson. She grew up in the community of Waterhouse in Kingston and was educated at the Wolmer’s High School for Girls and the University of Technology (UTech).

Career

Fraser began competing in track and field events at age 10, while in primary school and continued to compete at the high school level. She excelled in the 100-metre sprint, running the course in 11.57 seconds at a High School Championship athletics meet. She won a bronze medal at a World Championship meet in 2007 and in the following year, ran the 100-metre sprint final at the Beijing Olympics in 10.78 seconds, winning the gold medal. She retained her title at the 2012 London Olympics, completing the race in 10.75 seconds.

Fraser continues to perform well on the track and has achieved many feats since her Olympic wins. These include:

• Gold in 100-metres and 200-metres at 2013 Moscow World Championships in Moscow, Russia
• Gold in 60-metres at 2014 Sopot World Indoor Championships in Sopot, Poland
• Gold in 100-metres at 2015 Beijing World Championships in Beijing, China
• Bronze in 100-metres at 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Awards

The star athlete has received several awards to include:

• The Order of Distinction (OD), Jamaica’s sixth highest National Honour (2008)
• International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Athlete of the Year (2013)
• RJR Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year (2012, 2013, 2015)
• Ambassador Special Envoy of Jamaica (2014)
• Honorary Doctorates from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the University of Technology, UTech, Jamaica (2016)

Family

Shelly-Ann Fraser is married to Jason Pryce. They reside in Jamaica.