“From Waterhouse to the world, every second has been for something greater”. Indeed, it has been! Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s journey began in a modest corner of Kingston, Jamaica. In a neighborhood called Waterhouse. And her journey from the lanes of Waterhouse to the highest pedestal of the podium, countless times, wasn’t a cakewalk for the Jamaican. Two years back, in an interview, Fraser-Pryce recalled, “I lived in a group of homes in a big space called a tenement yard with my two brothers and my mom. The four of us slept on one bed… make sure everybody could fit.” But amid all the financial challenges, Fraser-Pryce made sure to leave her sparkle on the world. And she did. 

Eighteen years after ruling the track like a queen, she has shared a heartfelt note announcing her farewell as a competitor in her sport. As a young girl, she navigated an environment where many of her peers faced early pregnancies, dropout rates, and situations that just posed barriers in their lives. But she chose to run behind her dreams, breaking all the shackles she could. Going down the memory lane, she even shared, “When I was younger, I never knew I was poor. When I got to high school and saw other students getting dropped off in nice cars, and I had to take to the bus, I realized I was poor.”

From these early circumstances, Fraser-Pryce carved a path that led her to become the “Pocket Rocket.” For 18 long years, she gifted her nation with medals, her family the happiest moments. And last month, in September 2025, at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, she concluded her competitive journey. However, she made sure not to leave the ground without a win. With an impeccable run, Fraser-Pryce bagged a silver medal in the 4x100m relay, bringing her total World Championships medal count to sixteen.

While track and field fans were already dealing with the news of her retirement with a heavy heart, . “For the past 18 years, time — down to the very millisecond — has been at the epicenter of my life. Time has been the measure, the test, and the reward. Every day of training, each of my 275 races, every step to the starting line was my own pursuit to not only utilize the time given but to make it my own. For nearly two decades, I have made every second count, and I give God all the glory for blessing me with a career in something I have grown to love so deeply.”

Her reflections on the track and the podiums extended beyond mere numbers and medals. While she became the inspiration for many, she also made sure to be inspired by the moment that her sport gifted her with in every step. “This sport has given me joy beyond measure. It has shaped me, disciplined me, and carried me to heights I could only dream of as a young girl in Waterhouse. Yet as I reflect, I no longer see time only in seconds — I see it in years. The years I gave to sprinting will forever remain among the greatest of my life”, Fraser-Pryce added emotionally. 

She first reached the Olympic summit at Beijing 2008, claiming 100m gold in her debut Games, and since then she has just kept on adding feathers to her crown. She further etched her name in history at the 2022 World Championships, securing her fifth 100m world title. If that wasn’t already enough, she did that as the oldest athlete to claim that distinction at 35.

But amid every win and celebration, she kept herself grounded and never forgot her roots. She often reflected on the sacrifices of her mother. In an interview with NBC, she even noted, “Now that I’m older, I understand clearly that she was doing the best she could with what she had. I appreciate the fact that she never really gave up. She really tried to do her best to make sure that she was steering me on the right path because it was very easy to be distracted by everything that was going on in the community.” And in her retirement announcement, too, Shelly-Ann did not miss the chance to give all the credit to the rocks of her life.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce does not forget to pay tribute to family, son, and nation

As ‘Mommy Rocket’ stepped away from competitive athletics, in her farewell address, she gave all the gratitude to her family. Speaking about her strongest support system, she wrote, “None of what I have been able to accomplish would have been possible without my family. My husband, Jason, has been my anchor and my greatest teammate. His love, sacrifice, and steadfast commitment carried me through every season.” Adding about the most priceless possession of hers, her son, who has shaped her to be what she is today, Shelly-Ann added, “To my son, Zyon—your arrival was God’s perfect timing. You gave me a new purpose and reminded me that my greatest title will always be ‘Mom.’”

Furthermore, going beyond her family, she paid respect to the flag she carried on her shoulders for almost two decades with love and pride. Fraser-Pryce paid homage to her nation. She recalled the pride of representing Jamaica on the world stage and stated. “I am a proud daughter of the soil, and I owe an eternal debt of gratitude to Jamaica. To my fellow Jamaicans—thank you for your unyielding love, loyalty, and pride that have propelled me year after year.”

As she contemplated the future, Fraser-Pryce framed her transition as a continuation and made sure that it’s not a conclusion. “I know my race is not finished; it is simply a lane change,” she said. And now, after her run on the track as one of the world’s most gifted sprinters, the world would wait to witness her run in the new lane she chooses in life.