Jamaican sprinting legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is at the centre of drama and debate after withdrawing from her 100m semi-final at the last minute under mysterious circumstances.
The 37-year old, competing at her final Olympics and looking to claim a medal in the event for the fifth consecutive Games, was a late scratching just minutes before the race was slated to begin.
The Jamaican Athletics Federation have reportedly told World Athletics that Fraser-Pryce’s withdrawal was due to an injury; however, confusion continues to reign given she remains on the Jamaican team’s 4x100m relay team for later in the week.
Teammate Tia Clayton described her absence as ‘pretty surprising’; and video footage surfacing from behind the scenes in Paris has suggested a potentially farcical scenario may be to blame.
Just hours before the event, the footage shows Fraser-Pryce and American Sha’Carri Richardson being denied entry to the warm-up track.
The reason? Apparently, that the pair had arrived at the venue in private vehicles rather than via their official team shuttles.
Fraser-Pryce was heard complaining to officials that organisers had ‘changed the rule yesterday’.
“How you going to change the rule and then not say?” she continued.
“So you’re asking all the athletes who, for whatever reason, don’t stay in the (athlete) village, they can’t come through the gate? We came through this gate yesterday and went through security and it was OK. They want us to go all the way up to where everybody is exiting … that’s crazy!”
Channel Nine commentator Gerard Whateley described the scenario as ‘a disaster for Paris’ if the rule change is indeed what caused Fraser-Pryce’s withdrawal.
“There has been a rule change in the warm-up area and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has fallen on the wrong side of it. She has been denied entry,” Whateley said.
“So, rather than withdrawing, she has [been] withdrawn – and it seems as though there is video evidence of her pleading her case to get in. This is a disaster for Paris if that turns out to be the case.
“If there is something that’s changed between yesterday and today ahead of the semi-finals and the greatest ever female sprinter has been denied access to the stadium to compete in a semi-final… that’s right up there with the Seine being unfit to swim in.
“It’s sketchy for the moment.”
Richardson, however, did participate in both the semi-finals and final of the 100m, claiming silver behind St Lucia’s Julien Alfred.
The Roarhttps://www.theroar.com.au/2024/08/04/disaster-for-paris-olympic-farce-suggested-as-sprint-legend-mysteriously-withdraws-from-100m-semis/‘Disaster for Paris’: Olympic farce suggested as sprint legend mysteriously withdraws from 100m semis
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