The legendary Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce sat down with British sprinter Annie-Jill Tagoe to discuss her career so far, her hopes for the future, and how she’s balanced motherhood with athletics.
Annie-Jill Tagoe
Do you understand the magnitude of your accomplishments, and your impact on the sport?
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
I just try to stay level headed and get the job done. I’m really zoned in and focussed. But from a Jamaican standpoint, I understand – when I’m getting people sending me notes, from when young girls write in class, you know, “Who inspires you?”, and they talk about me, that’s when you see it. When there’s Jamaica Day, and the kids are dressing up like me, wearing coloured wigs to school. When I go back to my community, and I interact with the kids – or even the adults – and I hear how much I inspire them and how much they want to be like me, or just how much I inspire them to really go after their dreams, it makes me feel proud. For me, I’ve always wanted to make sure that whatever it is that I do, whether I win medals or not, I want to be able to inspire and give girls and women the opportunity to understand that there’s more to be had – you just have to continue to want it and to really work for it.
AJT
How do you keep moving forward after accomplishing so much in track and field?
SAFP
There’s this thing that I have where, deep inside, I know there’s more. There’s something inside of me where I genuinely believe I can run a 10.50s. I feel like there’s a lot more to give, which is maybe crazy to say as a 37-year-old. But I’ve not been wrong so far, thank God. There’s still a passion, and a lot of determination in making sure that I have the best possible. I still feel like I haven’t had my best race yet. I’m working for that moment. That’s what a lot of athletes need to understand: they need to be coachable. You always have to want to improve. I’ve never felt like I’ve arrived. There’s still more work to be done, and I think that’s why I’ve been consistently able to do so over the years.
AJT
How have you preserved through all the mental battles of the sport?
SAFP
There’s this thing about me: I don’t read anything that doesn’t concern me.
AJT
Really! Even with your name being so big?
SAFP
I read books, sure. But when it comes to articles like, “how fast can Shelly-Ann run?” I try to stay away, just to preserve my own mental space. Sometimes, you find yourself comparing yourself to other athletes, like “I have done this, or I should have done that”. I’m very critical of myself. I try to stay away as best as possible from seeing that. It just doesn’t concern me. You know, I don’t go looking for things. You have some people who sit down and actively go and search for negative comments, but that’s not me. During championships, I don’t read anything. I’m aware of who’s gonna be there, because I’ve been competing against them during the season, so I know who’s capable of what. But I don’t spend my time focussing on it. When I don’t have a good practice session, or I’m feeling lots of pain or things aren’t going right, I allow myself to grieve that process. If I need to spend a day or so just being curled up and having a conversation with Jason, my husband, talking about it, I can. It’s very important that you have someone that listens without judgement, that you can say how you feel, and they hear you without interjecting and saying, “Oh, no, you shouldn’t do that”. I know I shouldn’t do that! I just want you to listen. It’s always good to have somebody that you can bounce things off of and be really authentic and genuine. Let me take a day. Sometimes you have to really listen and feel, and allow yourself the grace. You’re not a robot – you have feelings.
AJT
Love that. After accomplishing so many of your dreams, what do you dream of now? Do you just dream of just going on a holiday, or buying an island?
SAFP
I definitely dream of travelling, as that’s something that I’ve wanted to do so badly. My friends will say, “But girl, you’ve travelled to so many places”, and I’m like, “Yeah, to compete”. I’m really just there to compete and work; I don’t really have the time. I don’t know how people do it, as I’ve never done that. I usually compete for the entire championship because I run the relays. By the time I’ve finished competing I’m out the next day!
AJT
Normally I go sightseeing beforehand! Do you not go to the afterparties as well?
SAFP
Nope! Even at the Olympics. When I’m finished, I just want to relax – I’m tired! I’m not showing up. But if I could have done some of it differently I would have.
AJT
From all the major championships you’ve been to, what is your favourite hairstyle you’ve had?
SAFP
Well, I’ve had so many. I’m gonna go with two. First was when I did the unicorn, with my son, that was really a vibe for me. Like they say, unicorns do exist – it’s rare. And then I would have to go with the pink as well. And the first one I ran in the heats up in Oregon. It was almost purple with spots all around. The funny thing about that one is I was getting it done and the girl was doing my hair, but the iron was too hot. So it was burning the hair, and it changed the colour of the hair completely. I was so angry!
AJT
Do you plan it in advance?
SAFP
I pay attention to where I’m going and the different colours from that country. I also pay attention to what I did the year before. I really just try to mix it up – so like this year, going to the Olympics, I’m looking forward to mixing all the colours that I’ve done over the years to come up with a nice moodboard, and then from that moodboard I’ll select my colours.
AJT
You have a real sense of joy when you warm up, practice, and race – how has that helped you with your athletic career longevity?
SAFP
I think it’s really important that you find joy in what you do. Because what I’ve found in my years of competing is that the happier I am, the better I perform. There is a reason why you should be smiling. There’s a reason why you should be happy to grace the track and to compete, and you have to find that reason – that reason is unique to you. Everytime I grace the track and I’m warming up, and I put my earphones on, and I’m listening to my music, it’s almost like: “This is my moment”. If it’s not, then I’m making it my moment. Own it, and really grab a hold of it with both arms and really just be present in that.
AJT
Even this year, when you looked a little bit disappointed when you came third – you were able to snap out of it so quickly, and still be happy.
SAFP
I didn’t have the year I wanted, and I felt like I didn’t even get the opportunity to really represent all that I’ve been able to do or accomplish. But you’ve got to be grateful, because it could always have a different result. Be easy on yourself. I’m very critical of myself. Maybe that’s why I work so hard.
AJT
You’ve got to give yourself grace, because who do you know that can run four races in a season and come to the championships and get a medal – not many people can do that!
SAFP
I always try to keep it real. And I think that’s important for athletes as a whole to see that: there’s nothing wrong with wanting something; there’s nothing wrong with feeling that disappointment.
AJT
What were your short term goals for yourself before you started taking athletics, and after giving birth?
SAFP
Honestly, I just wanted to make the national team! I didn’t care if I was a reserve or anything. When I had my son, Zion, I knew that I had the year to get myself back in shape, which worked to my advantage. I wanted to go a race at a time, which came quickly. I actually ran 10.90s quickly in London. That did for me like nothing else could have after having my son – it cemented in my mind that okay, all right, it’s gonna be good next year.
AJT
How do you balance being a mother and a top athlete? How amazing is your support system?
SAFP
It’s definitely difficult. When he was younger, I would have to take him with me, and it was hard as I was breastfeeding. I was having separation anxiety – some days I’d go to practice but didn’t want to stay because I wanted to see him. I’m really hands on, so I want to be there for everything. Emotionally it was hard, because I sometimes felt like I was putting track above my son. It’s important to have a support system, and I’ve been blessed to have that. My husband is really hands on, and I have a nanny at home, who I love so much. She’s an integral part of our family.
AJT
What is your number one technical cue to running faster?
SAFP
Relaxation. It’s so important to allow your body to do what you’ve been training to do. When you’re competing, and you want to be at your best, you have to practise relaxation. It’s telling your body, “I’ve done this before, we can do it again”. It’s like you’re talking to yourself. You can train all your life and have great technique, but if you have no relaxation you can actually become so tight and lose all of that form.
AJT
Do you say this to yourself at the warm up?
SAFP
Most of the things that I do are before I get to the block. At the block you can only do one thing: listen to the gun and just go. I don’t want to tell myself a hundred things at the line, because you’re going to be having to focus on a lot of things. The main focus is making sure that I just go, that I’m low and pushing forward. Use your warmup to limit what you’re going to do at the start line.
AJT
Did you feel supported when you found out you were pregnant? What would you like to see when future athletes take time off to have babies?
SAFP
I would say no, initially. I never really felt supported when I was pregnant by the wider community, because I think people weren’t used to it. But from my family, there was always the support. I never felt at any moment that having my son would change things dramatically. I genuinely felt like I could. I’d definitely want to see other athletes supported more, and embraced. Because ultimately that’s a decision women will make in their careers, and they should be supported for that decision. There are other things in life, and other things that we’re capable of doing and wanting to do. Do we feel valued? Is it just that you want me to run? How do you support me as a mum? I’m appreciative that they’ve invested more, and done more when it comes to maternity.
AJT
How are you able to balance your personal life with athletics?
SAFP
It’s easy in Jamaica! Jamaica keeps you grounded. I still go to my community, I still attend the same church, I still take part in my youth fellowship. Jamaica forces you to take things a day at a time. We’re a tiny island, but there are so many girls who just want the opportunity to grow. I know I’m a high-profile athlete, but I see myself as a regular citizen. Outside of track, there are still things you want to work on on a personal level. But Jamaica forces you to be humble.
AJT
What do you want your fans to remember you for?
SAFP
I’d say impact. It’s not about where you’re from, it’s what’s inside of you. Nobody gets to decide your time or your moment but you. You’re not too young or old to go after your dreams and accomplish things. A lot of people put a time limit on success, but it’s different for everybody. I’ve proven that over the years.
AJT
Finally, do you see yourself going back to the sport as a coach?
SAFP
I think I’d be very good in terms of management and mentorship, but in terms of coaching – I don’t know. I don’t have the patience! I don’t even have the patience with myself. But there’s so much experience and knowledge that I’ve acquired over the years that I could impart on someone.
