Did Paris 2024 chaos lead to Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s injury and withdrawal?

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Sha’Carri Richardson, two of the top names in women’s sprinting, encountered an unexpected obstacle before their race at the Paris Olympics on Saturday, August 3.

The athletes were temporarily prevented from entering the warm-up area at the Stade de France due to a mix-up with security protocols. Video footage shared widely on social media shows Fraser-Pryce and Richardson waiting outside the gate, unable to access the facility. The confusion stemmed from their arrival at the stadium in private vehicles rather than using the team shuttle provided by the organizers, which led to their initial denial of entry.

Fraser-Pryce, who is not residing in the athletes’ village, had to make her own way to and from the stadium. In a circulating video, she expressed her frustration over the sudden rule change.

“They changed the rule yesterday. How can you change the rule and not inform us? They’re saying all athletes not staying in the village can’t enter through this gate?” Fraser-Pryce commented. “We used this gate yesterday, went through security, and it was fine. Now they want us to go all the way to the main entrance and come back. That’s crazy,” she added.

Both athletes were eventually granted access to the venue, but Fraser-Pryce strained her hamstring during warm-ups. It is unclear if this situation contributed to her injury.

Criticism has been directed at the organizers for their handling of the situation, particularly in light of Fraser-Pryce’s injury. Jamaica’s team manager, Ludlow Watts, spoke about her withdrawal: “We were informed about her injury about half an hour earlier while she was warming up, which came as a surprise to me,” Watts told the Jamaica Observer. “We only received the information that she is injured, but Dr. Warren Blake is addressing the matter, and we will provide more details later,” he said.

St. Lucian Julien Alfred went on to win the final in 10.82 seconds, with Sha’Carri Richardson finishing second in 10.87. This marks the first time since 1980 that Jamaica did not win a medal in the women’s 100m.