“Not every win comes with a gold medal. Sometimes the victory is just showing up when it’s hard,” Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce said it straight, no sugarcoating, just pure wisdom from the greatest herself. Earlier this year, the Jamaican Pocket Rocket announced her farewell after two decades of dominance, choosing the Tokyo World Athletics Championships as her final stage. And when she blazed through the 100m in 11.03s, it wasn’t just the end of a race, it was the closing chapter of a legendary career. A girl who once dreamed of touching the skies had turned that dream into reality, leaving behind a legacy etched in golden words.

Dramatic, isn’t it? Well, it’s a full circle moment for her, back on September 1, 2007, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce lined up for Heat 2 of the women’s 4x100m relay at the World Championships in Osaka. It was her first time wearing Jamaica’s colors on the global stage. At that time, not many could have imagined that the 20-year-old newcomer would become the most decorated 100-meter sprinter of all time.

Fast forward to 2025, after conquering everything the world of sprinting has to offer, she lined up for her eighth World Championships. And once again, history bent to her will. By making yet another women’s 100m final, she became the only sprinter to reach every single World Championship final in the event since 2009, cementing her legacy as the standard of greatness.

Her career stands as a true testament to strength, grace, and legacy. Yes, she may have closed the curtain with a sixth-place finish at the 2025 World Championships, but numbers tell the real story: 10 World Championship golds—10! Athletes dream their whole lives for one, and she has a living room glowing with them. Add to that four silvers and a bronze, and the greatness only deepens. On the Olympic stage, she shone just as bright, with three golds, four silvers, and a bronze. A collection not just of medals, but of memories, milestones, and a reign that defined an era.

Raw numbers and records don’t define her illustrious career; she’s achieved far more than medals. It’s the legacy she’s built that truly sets her apart. With two decades at the pinnacle of track and field, she has inspired an entire generation of athletes, including stars like Sha’Carri Richardson. Talking about this legacy, Tanya Hvizdak, VP, Global Sports Marketing, stated, “In her two decades as a professional athlete, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce hasn’t just dominated the track, she’s transformed it. Shelly-Ann is one of the most legendary sprinters the world has ever seen, breaking records, shattering barriers and redefining what it means to be a champion.”

She further added, “It’s been an honor to watch her inspire generations of athletes to chase greatness as boldly as she has. As a brand, it’s our privilege to have been part of Shelly-Ann’s career for over 17 years and to continue working together as she furthers her legacy in retirement. Her accolades are unmatched, but her impact as a mother, role model, and relentless competitor transcends sport.”

Known for her blistering races, glittering medals, record-breaking feats, and her vibrant, colorful hair, the athlete has left a mark far beyond the track. She touched not only her fellow competitors but also millions of fans worldwide. And when the time came to bid farewell to the sport, emotions ran high; fans couldn’t hold back their tears as they gave her a send-off worthy of a legend. “We have just witnessed Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce‘s final race on the global stage. What a champion, legend, and ambassador for athletics,” wrote one fan, capturing in a few short words just what Fraser-Pryce meant to the track and field community.

“Thank You,” says the fans as Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce bids a final goodbye to the world of track and field

After two decades of dominance, multiple World Championships, and Olympic medals, the Pocket Rocket is finally taking the well-deserved break she’s earned. Paying her a beautiful tribute, Alex Ohanian’s Athlos wrote, ”Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce—A woman who deserves more than a bouquet of flowers but a garden in her honor! We thank you for your everlasting dominance, upstanding personality & overall influence. Farewell from the track, Mommy Rocket! We’re excited for your next steps.”

“People see the medals and the headlines. But what they don’t always see are the quiet battles—the early mornings, the doubts, the sacrifices, and the moments that test your spirit when no one’s watching,” wrote Ann Fraser in one of her Instagram posts, highlighting the sacrifices required to reach the pinnacle of professional sport, words that perfectly mirror her journey. Remebring her journey one fan simply wrote, “To Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, thank you.”

An emotional fan shared on social media, “We have just witnessed Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s final race on the global stage. What a champion, legend, and ambassador for athletics.” Another fan highlighted her remarkable stats about her but that’s not all as she is the oldest woman to win a 100m World title and has claimed that title in 2009, 2013, 2015, 2019, and 2022—a record number for women in the event. “Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has had an amazing career. First Caribbean woman to win a 100m title, most women’s 100m World Championship titles, third fastest woman of all time, and second fastest Jamaican. Illustrious career.” Finally, a fan summed it up perfectly: “Massive respect for what she has achieved over the years.”

With that comes the end of her illustrious career. Her accolades speak for themselves—a legacy built so impeccably, it may stand unbroken for generations. As she crossed the finish line one last time, she said, “I think it’s so important to finish on your own terms.” A flawless farewell for a once-in-a-century star.