Find your passion outside of track and field and work hard at the craft. That is the advice Jamaican female sprinting icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has for young athletes coming up in the sport.
Fraser-Pryce, who was honoured by the Waterhouse Football Club for her nearly two decades of outstanding performances on the global stage, said that for many young athletes their track and field careers is their be-all and end-all.
However, she pointed out that athletes are also people with other passions, aspirations and dreams, and that they should find the thing that they love most outside of the sport, and find ways and time to nurture and develop those interests.
“The advice is to really be true to who they are,” Fraser-Pryce said, after being presented with a citation on behalf of the Waterhouse Football Club from Chairman Bruce Bicknell.
“Continue to work hard and understand that outside of track and field, know who they are, because track and field is what they do. It’s not who they are.
“So find a passion outside (the sport). Something that you love, and just continue to work hard at the craft. You’ll have good days and bad days. Good seasons and bad seasons. But every experience has a learning lesson. Take the lesson and build on it,” she said.
The sprint legend, who has 18 years of experience competing at the highest level, winning two Olympics 100m gold medals, five World Championships 100m gold medals and a 200m gold, declared that she has no intention of venturing into coaching, despite her wealth of knowledge and experience.
However, mentoring young athletes is something she has done passionately throughout her career, and will continue to do as her way of contributing to development.
“No. No plans to coach,” she stated flatly when the question was posed.
“I always mentor. I have been mentoring for the last 18 years, because I have always been an advocate for the sport and for the athletes, especially Jamaican athletes. Because I know we have it a little bit harder.
“We don’t have the proper structure or resources to get what we really want. But we make good with what we have, and for that we (Jamaicans) are eternally grateful for the sacrifice young athletes make.
“So, for me, I’m always in a position of mentoring whenever Jamaicans step on the field.”
