A murmur spread through Stade de France on Saturday evening when, before the semifinal of the women’s 100 meters at the Paris Olympics, the lane assigned to Jamaican sprinting star Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was unexpectedly empty.
Fraser-Pryce, a long-standing icon of the event with Olympic golds in 2008 and 2012, a bronze in 2016, and a silver in 2021, did not start the race. Her withdrawal was not publicly disclosed until the other competitors stepped up to their starting blocks.
No explanation was provided for her decision.
This marks the second surprising withdrawal of a Jamaican star at these Olympics, following Shericka Jackson’s earlier withdrawal from the 100 meters, though Jackson will compete in the 200 meters. Fraser-Pryce’s Games are not necessarily over, as she remains eligible for the 4×100-meter relay.
With Jackson and Fraser-Pryce out, and Great Britain’s decorated sprinter Dina Asher-Smith failing to advance past the semifinal round, the door is further opened for U.S. star Sha’Carri Richardson to capture gold in her Olympic debut, after winning the world championship last year.
