At Kingston’s National Stadium on June 27, 2025, Shelly‑Ann Fraser‑Pryce—known as the “Pocket Rocket”—lined up for what would be her final competitive race on Jamaican soil. Facing fierce rivals like Tina Clayton and Shericka Jackson, she poured every ounce of grit into that 100 m final, crossing the line in 10.91s to finish third. While the crowd applauded the final flight of the mommy rocket in Jamaica. One legend in the stands felt it more deeply than most—he knew exactly what it must feel like. Her last race in Jamaica also brought in major track changes, but first, the legend in the stands…

Usain Bolt had marked his presence early in the Kingston National Stadium to support his friend. He had talked of how her career had been longer than his and even counted her among one of the best ever. Bolt had himself had his last race in this stadium back in 2017. Now with Shelly taking her goodbyes, a huge chunk not just of the Jamaican spirit history lies down to rest, but also of the Kingston National Stadium. It would not be wrong to say that the stadium has seen them grow, and now, with both of them retired, how metaphorical it is that this track is getting broken down.

Raynor, a Jamaican sports journalist,  took to his official X handle to announce on July 16, 2025, that break some great news for the Jamaican track and field fans. He tweeted, “Sports Minister @MCGESJamaica Olivia Grange today revealed that ground will be broken next month for major renovation work to start in 2026 on the national stadium. There will be increased seating capacity, access for the disabled community, and tiered parking. @TvjNewscentre” The Kingston National Stadium is set to undergo renovations in early 2026 with hopes of completion in 2029. The capacity is projected to increase to hold nearly 38,000 fans.

Yup, you heard that right. No more traffic jams outside the stadium to start with. Olivia “Babsy” Grange, Minister of the Jamaican Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport (MCGES), announced the good news on Wednesday. “The National Stadium Redevelopment Project is moving forward with a groundbreaking expected in August 2025, as I had indicated. The stadium will be 90% covered. We will have tiered parking because I know parking and traffic control have always been a big problem,” she said in a statement. Unfortunately, Usain Bolt retired in 2017, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, having run her last race in Jamaica, might never feel the joy of professionally sprinting on the renovated tracks.

Grange further told that there will be seating, modern anti-doping facilities, modern media facilities, a sports museum,  improved lighting, and enhanced spectator amenities. Lighting had been one of the big issues. In June 2024, CONCACAF inspected the National Stadium in Kingston and found the lights did not meet the required standards for an evening kick-off. Consequently, Jamaica’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Dominican Republic, originally scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start on June 6, 2024, was rescheduled to 3:30 p.m. But despite the stadium issues, it remains a historic ground for both Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Kingston National Stadium, the place where Usain Bolt started

Usain Bolt’s rise at Kingston’s National Stadium began as a 15‑year‑old when he won the 200 m at the 2002 World Junior Championships on home turf in 20.58 seconds—a breakthrough moment that electrified the stadium and propelled his career. Over the next decade, he shattered records there, including a lightning 9.76s in 2008 and a stunning 19.56s in 2010. His final home run came on June 10, 2017, at the JN Racers Grand Prix—while not his fastest at 10.03 s, it was deeply sentimental: he crossed lane five, kissed the finish line, struck his iconic lightning pose, and received a hero’s farewell from 30,000 fans.

In December 2017, Jamaica unveiled a bronze statue of Bolt outside the stadium, immortalizing his “to‑the‑world” stance at the very venue of his ascent. While Shelly’s legacy might not be as big as that of Bolt in this stadium, she has had her moments. Apart from saying goodbye to the Jamaican crowd this year, she has also clocked a world‑leading 10.63s in Kingston to become the second-fastest woman in the 100 m in 2021, a place which she subsequently lost to Elaine Thompson‑Herah’s 10.54. That same week, she won the national 100 m in 10.71s and blasted a personal best of 21.79s in the 200 m, ranking sixth all‑time in Jamaica. Today, neither of them is racing in Jamaica again. It goes on to tell that new athletes keep coming – the sport is immortal.