Fraser-Pryce Withdraws from 100m Semifinals

Jamaican sprinting icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's quest for a fifth consecutive Olympic medal in the women's 100m came to an abrupt end on Saturday as she withdrew from the semi-final due to injury. The two-time Olympic champion, who previously secured gold in Beijing and London and a bronze in Rio, was poised to compete against American sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson in a highly anticipated race. Just moments before the semi-finals commenced, it was confirmed that Fraser-Pryce would not participate, leaving fans and competitors surprised. The first semi-final featured British athlete Dina Asher-Smith, who has previously earned two bronze medals in the 4x100m relay at the Olympics. Fraser-Pryce's absence shifted the focus to the remaining competitors, with Asher-Smith expressing her disappointment after failing to advance to the final. Fraser-Pryce, reflecting on her withdrawal, expressed her frustration, stating, "I'm just disappointed because I'm in great shape and have been in great shape all season." She had high hopes of reaching the final, especially given the relatively slow pace of the race. Despite her setback, she indicated her intention to shift focus to the 200m event, although she remained disheartened by her inability to compete in the 100m. In the semi-finals, Julian Alfred set a remarkable benchmark with a time of 10.84 seconds, further highlighting the competitive nature of the event in Fraser-Pryce's absence.