Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Pulls Out of Olympic 100m Semifinal

Two-time Olympic 100 champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce withdrew from the 100-meter semifinal at the Paris Games. No reason was given for her withdrawal. This marks the end of her fifth and final Olympics. Her departure leaves Jamaica without a contender in the 100 meters this year.

Two-time Olympic 100-meter champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's quest for another title ended abruptly Saturday when she withdrew from the 100-meter semifinal at the Paris Games.

No immediate reason was given for Fraser-Pryce's withdrawal, which appeared on the scoreboard just moments before she was set to race against Sha'Carri Richardson and Julien Alfred in the evening's second semifinal.

Fraser-Pryce, a 37-year-old mother who clinched gold medals in 2008 and 2012, had announced this would be her fifth and final Olympics. She had smoothly advanced through the first round the day before, clocking in at 10.92 seconds and finishing second in her heat.

Earlier on Saturday, Fraser-Pryce was among several athletes who were initially blocked from accessing the training track, according to the Jamaica team's social media updates. She was eventually allowed in, but the team did not confirm if this incident contributed to her sudden withdrawal.

Fraser-Pryce, a decorated athlete with eight Olympic medals—including gold in the 4x100 relay at the 2021 Tokyo Games—also boasts 16 world championship medals, including five titles in the 100 meters, the latest of which she won in 2022.

Her exit from the competition means none of the three Jamaicans who swept the podium in Tokyo will compete in this year's 100 meters. Reigning champion Elaine Thompson-Herah ended her season earlier due to an Achilles tendon injury, and bronze medalist Shericka Jackson opted to focus on the 200 meters.

(With inputs from agencies.)