In the world of track and field, Jamaican sprint royalty Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is a force to be reckoned with. Known for her colorful wigs, infectious personality, and lightning-fast speed, the “Pocket Rocket” is hard to miss and stands out like no other. However, a recent mix-up left everyone scratching their heads and ignited the usually cheerful champion’s fury and temper.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce took a stand against a media outlet for wrongfully using her image, prompting her to shut them down over pretenses. It all had to do with a recent post on the Facebook page of HKEsports Africa. The post (now deleted, was verified at the time of publishing) featured a woman speeding down the track with her long blond hair braided. The caption claimed she was the wife of the late marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, who passed away tragically on February 11, 2024.

It read, “Kenya’s 🇰🇪 Kelvin Kiptum’s wife Asenath Cheruto practicing to be a 100m sprinter.” However, the situation took an unexpected twist when eight-time Olympic medalist Fraser-Pryce expressed her disbelief by commenting, “Not someone using my image ???🤔” Her comment swiftly drew attention to the glaring error in the post, highlighting the importance of accurate representation and attribution.

When an account replied to Fraser-Pryce’s comment, asking, “How can you prove it’s your picture,” the Jamaican wrote back, “Imagine 15 years of high-level competition, and I need to verify myself😅” She subsequently added, “Please remove my image immediately. Thank you 👍🏾” When several users posted the image on X, many fans showed Fraser-Pryce their support.

One wrote, “You ask any basic school [in] Jamaica who [is] in this picture. [They will] tell you,” pointing to just how absurd they found the Facebook user’s comment. Another acknowledged that the Olympian wrote back, penning, “She definitely needed to tell them that.” Considering Fraser-Pryce would know how Fraser-Pryce looks, a user noted, “She know her hair, she know her batty, and she knows her pink spikes. Take it tf down 😂💀” That’s precisely what the Facebook poster did.

Not only did the post misidentify Shelly-Ann, but it also speculated on the intentions of Kelvin Kiptum’s mourning wife regarding her athletic pursuits. The incident involving the misrepresentation of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s image underscores the importance of accuracy and integrity in digital media. This incident comes amid the ongoing Nike controversies within the track and field community, where concerns have been raised regarding a possible snub of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Nike’s snub of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce sparks outrage, calls for boycott

The recent clash between Nike and Jamaican athletes adds more tension to the long-standing rivalry between the United States and Jamaica in track and field events. Nike’s campaign, which celebrates its athletes before the Paris Olympics, has inadvertently reignited the feud between Sha’Carri Richardson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Tensions are evident, as Richardson’s recent photoshoot resembles a previous advertisement featuring Fraser-Pryce and the Jamaican sprinter’s omission from Nike’s display of athlete statues. As an icon of Jamaican track and field excellence, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s absence from Nike’s display has sparked outrage among the Jamaican community and her fans worldwide.

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Given her remarkable achievements and contributions to the sport, many perceive her exclusion as a sign of disrespect and lack of recognition. Calls for Jamaican athletes to boycott Nike products illustrate the depth of frustration and disappointment felt by fans and athletes. The situation highlights the power dynamics in sports endorsements and the importance of equal recognition for athletes from all backgrounds.