Tennis icon Serena Williams pays tribute to sprinting superstar Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce at ATHLOS NYC 2025, celebrating her remarkable influence on women’s athletics.
In a heartfelt ceremony at ATHLOS NYC 2025, tennis great Serena Williams honored Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce by crowning her the queen of women’s sprinting, recognizing her extraordinary contributions to track and field.
The tribute unfolded on Friday, October 10, at Icahn Stadium during the ATHLOS event, where Fraser-Pryce was celebrated not only for her athletic achievements but also for inspiring countless young athletes worldwide as she steps away from competitive racing.
On October 7, 2025, Fraser-Pryce officially announced her retirement from athletics, expressing heartfelt thanks to her family, supporters, and her homeland for their unwavering encouragement throughout her career.
“Athletics has brought me immeasurable happiness. It has molded my character, instilled discipline, and elevated me to heights I once only dreamed of as a young girl growing up in Waterhouse. Reflecting now, I measure time not just in seconds but in the years dedicated to this sport-years that will forever be among the most cherished of my life,” Fraser-Pryce shared.
Alexis Ohanian, founder of ATHLOS and husband to Serena Williams, remarked during an appearance on @CBSMornings that recognizing Fraser-Pryce’s legacy was a fitting tribute, with Serena being the perfect figure to bestow this honor.
The ATHLOS event in New York was marked by outstanding performances, including Brittany Brown’s sprint double victory and $120,000 prize, Tara Davis-Woodhall’s season-best long jump of 7.13m, and Faith Kipyegon recording the fastest mile ever run on American soil.
The Journey of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to Iconic Status
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce first captured global attention as a relatively unknown athlete when she clinched the women’s 100m gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics at just 21 years old. This victory made her the first Jamaican and Caribbean woman to win Olympic gold in the 100m sprint.
Over the years, she has become a pioneering figure in athletics, securing five world championship titles-including a remarkable 2022 win just over a year after welcoming her son Zyon, making her the first mother to claim a world sprint title-and accumulating numerous medals that solidify her legendary status.
After an illustrious 18-year career, the 38-year-old sprinting icon concluded her competitive journey at the Tokyo 2025 World Championships.
In her final races, Fraser-Pryce demonstrated her enduring excellence by reaching the women’s 100m final, finishing sixth, and then anchoring the Jamaican 4x100m relay team to a silver medal, passing the torch to the next generation of sprinters.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s legacy will endure as a beacon of inspiration for athletes worldwide, widely regarded as one of the greatest female sprinters in the history of the sport.