Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, a legendary Jamaican sprinter, is reportedly parting ways with her coach Reynaldo Walcott after a strained relationship. Fraser-Pryce’s decision comes at a critical juncture in her career as she faces multiple challenges.
Since joining forces with Walcott and the Elite Performance Track Club in 2020, Fraser-Pryce saw her personal best in the 100m improve from 10.70 seconds to 10.60 seconds. In 2022, she became the first woman in history to run sub-10.7 seconds in multiple races. However, her form has since declined, with injuries—particularly a knee issue—hindering her performance. At the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, she finished third in the 100m, a noticeable drop from her previous high standards.
Fraser-Pryce had originally left her previous coach, Stephen Francis, and the MVP Track Club during the COVID-19 pandemic to work with Walcott. Walcott, a seasoned coach who had experience at MVP and began training professional sprinters in 2016, collaborated with her to launch the Elite Performance Track Club. Despite early success, their relationship has reportedly grown cold, especially in the last 18 months, where Fraser-Pryce has remained notably quiet, giving fewer interviews and appearing less enthusiastic on the track.
One of the most difficult moments in her recent career occurred when Fraser-Pryce withdrew from the 2024 Olympic semifinals, just before a race against American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson and St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred. This decision was especially hard for her fans, as she had announced that the Paris Olympics would be her last.
Though there has been no official word from Fraser-Pryce, rumors suggest that Andre Wellington, a coach known for training World U20 silver medalist Bouwahghie Nkrumie, might be part of her new coaching team. This raises the question of whether Fraser-Pryce is planning to continue competing. While she had previously mentioned a desire to step away from competition to focus on her family, her remarks about finishing on her own terms suggest she might still be seeking a proper conclusion to her illustrious career.
Walcott’s coaching roster also includes star athletes such as Elaine Thompson-Herah, Rasheed Broadbell, Megan Tapper, and Rushell Clayton. However, there has been speculation of an exodus of athletes from his camp. Despite the initial excitement surrounding Thompson-Herah’s arrival at Elite Performance, her time under Walcott did not go as planned, and she failed to qualify for both the 100m and 200m at the 2023 World Championships. Thompson-Herah has reportedly been in talks to return to Stephen Francis’ MVP Track Club, although Francis had previously expressed reluctance to take her back.
Other athletes, like Rasheed Broadbell, the 110m hurdles bronze medalist from the Olympic Games, are also rumored to be considering a move back to MVP. Broadbell remains the only medal-winning athlete from the Elite Performance Track Club. The coming months will likely provide more clarity on how these coaching changes and athlete movements will unfold.
Despite these shifts and challenges, Fraser-Pryce’s future remains a topic of much speculation as she approaches her 38th birthday and the 2025 track season.
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