Can Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce stop Sha'Carri Richardson? Fans expect close finish in battle for 100m gold

PARIS, FRANCE: As the track and field events have been crucial in deciding the fastest man and woman on Earth, the women's 100-meter race kicked off the single-event sprint action at the Paris Olympic Games 2024 on Friday, August 2.

Three-time Olympic gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce leads a strong women's field featuring double sprint world champion Sha'Carri Richardson, who is aiming for her first Olympic medal.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Sha'Carri Richardson set to compete for 100m gold

The sprinters need to take advantage of their short time in the spotlight now that the track and field event at Stade de France is underway.

The women's 100-meter preliminary round finished on Friday, August 2, and the 27-athlete field is ready for the semifinals. Eight women will advance to the final match scheduled for Saturday, August 3, at 3:20 p.m. EDT, per FloTrack.

The rivalry between American and Jamaican athletes, who between them have set seven of the 10 fastest times ever, is likely to define the women's 100-meter competition.

Sha'Carri Richardson, the current world champion from the United States, has progressed and continues her quest for her maiden Olympic medal. She finished fourth with a timing of 10.94 in the first round.

American athlete Richardson—who tested positive for THC (cannabis), a drug prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency, and missed Tokyo 2020—is hoping to redeem herself at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

"Every move you make is leading to checkmate. So the Olympics, that’s checkmate, that’s the moment an athlete dreams about," she told Vogue Magazine ahead of the Olympics.

American phenom Richardson's rapid ascension was highlighted after winning a gold medal at the Athletics World Championships in Budapest in 2023. However, legendary Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is standing between Richardson and the Olympic 100-metre gold medal.

Fraser-Pryce considered one of the best sprinters of all time, has won five world championships and two gold medals at the Olympics in the blue-riband event in track and field, per the Olympics website.

However, questions arise about whether Fraser-Pryce still has it in her to save Jamaica's blushes in the latter stages of her career at 37.

Even though she hasn't raced much in the lead-up to Paris 2024, it would be unwise to wager against the "Mommy Rocket" for her Olympic farewell performance.

Fraser-Pryce told the media, "It's crazy to even think about the fact that it has been five straight Olympic Games. I'm really looking forward to the experience, stepping on the track and always, once I get on the line, I'm giving 100 percent at all times and that's what I'm looking forward to."

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce finishes second fastest in women's 100m heats to reach semifinals

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who won the 100m in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012, has remarkably finished on the podium at the last four Olympics.

The ten-time world champion turned in a strong performance on Friday, August 2, at the Stade de France, clocking in at 10.92, only 0.05 seconds behind the lead, Marie-Josée Ta Lou-Smith, in the heats, per the Olympics website.

The two will compete again on Saturday in the semi-finals. Fraser-Pryce will be looking to use her wealth of experience to shock the current world champion Richardson, who finished first in her heat with a time of 10.94.

Fans expect close contest between Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Sha'Carri Richardson

Social media users took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their anticipation over Fraser-Pryce and Richardson's upcoming match.

One user wrote, "All eyes will be on semi-final two of the women's 100 metres tomorrow as two-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will clash with reigning World Champion Sha'Carri Richardson and St Lucian speedster Julien Alfred."

A second user added, "The 100 meter dash - is where names live for history in the Olympics - Can't wait."

"The women’s 100m competition is underway! You can never count Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce out. She faces a stacked semi-final including Sha’Carri Richardson and Julien Alfred in her final Olympic Games," another remarked.

One user predicted, "2024 Paris Olympics 100m female finals prediction. Sha'Carri Richardson >Gold Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce >Silver."

"My Real Paris Olympics 2024 Women's 100m/200m Predictions 100m Julien Alfred Sha'Carri Richardson Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce," predicted another.

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