Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce at 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards: “Motherhood doesn’t stop you from achieving your dreams”

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce continues to break down barriers many people thought impossible in sport, with her World Championships and Diamond League 100m titles in 2022 just another feather in the cap of the eight-time Olympic medallist.

But ask her what she wants her legacy to be when she finally does decide to hang up her spikes, and her answer isn’t just about athletics.

For ‘Mommy Rocket’, as she’s affectionately become known since the birth of son Zyon in 2017, her sporting life goes hand-in-hand with her legacy as a mother.

“It’s definitely my legacy,” she told Olympics.com about her dual roles as legendary athlete and active mom. “Right now I can’t really separate the two per se because both things I’m passionate about.

"But of course being a mom comes first, my son, because that’s where I get to focus on nurturing him and my commitment to really making sure that I show up and I honour my promises to him.”

While for years common misconceptions that female athletes’ performances would suffer after giving birth to a child dominated the sporting landscape, Fraser-Pryce is living proof that being a mom may just be a superpower.

Since Zyon entered her life, Fraser-Pryce has racked up an impressive five world medals, two Olympic medals and the 2022 Diamond League title.

And with personal bests in the 100m (10.60) and 200m (21.79) both set in 2021, the 36-year-old is just getting better.

“For me, it’s something that you don’t escape,” she said of the positive impact becoming a mom has had on her athletics career. “I think since having my son I’ve run my best times and had the most fun, I’m most relaxed, so I’m excited about that.”

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce: The road to Paris 2024 has already started

Paris 2024 would be Fraser-Pryce’s fifth Olympic Games, and few other athletes have had the impact she has had since her gold-medal-winning 100m debut at Beijing 2008. 

But 15 years on from her first appearance at the Games, the Jamaican’s Olympic dreams have not dimmed in the slightest as she still thinks daily about her preparations for next year's Olympics. 

“You have four years to think about it, so for me every day it’s a reality that that’s what you’re chasing,” she told us. “You use each year to build on that, so I’ve definitely been using each year to continue to work. Last year was a phenomenal year and I’m looking forward to build on that and hopefully take it to Paris.”

One question that has been on every athletics fan’s mind is whether Fraser-Pryce will attempt the 100m/200m double next year in France. But while the 2013 world 200m champion has consistently proven herself over the longer distance, she revealed to us that the 100m dash is likely to be the focus of her attention at the Paris Olympics. 

“I think so,” she said when asked whether she has made a decision on whether to concentrate fully on the 100m at Paris 2024. “I think at this stage I really want to preserve myself if I’m looking forward to going to Paris 2024. So for me, it’s about preserving myself. 

“I’m not ruling it out completely, but in terms of a double it’s highly unlikely.”

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce: “If anything, motherhood just makes you stronger”

Having had so much success throughout her glittering career, it’s no wonder that young athletes - and indeed people across the world - look up to Fraser-Pryce as a role model.

However, while she gladly takes on the responsibilities of being a reference for others, the rapid Jamaican is keen to stress that she hasn’t stopped learning from the people she admires most.

“Whether we like it or not we are all role models, there is somebody looking up to us for inspiration,” she said, before adding, “Because even as old as I am, I have persons that I look up to and am like, ‘yeah, I want to do that, I want to add that to my collection.’”

And when people look back on her accolades - as they will for many years to come - she can be proud of the role she has played in changing notions about just what is possible in sport - both as an athlete and a mother.

“I think the impact, honestly,” she said when asked what she would like people to remember from her career. “Being one of the youngest to win an Olympic title to being one of the oldest to win an Olympic medal to being a mom.

“I really want it to be about impact, showing women that you can do anything at any stage of your career.

“And motherhood doesn’t stop you from achieving your dreams. Just continue what you already started. So it’s up to you to just have that belief. If anything it just makes you stronger.”