No relay final means Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's legendary Olympic career comes to a close
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's fifth and final Olympic Games has ended quietly.
After withdrawing ahead of her 100m semi-final last week (3 August) due to injury, the athletics legend left open the chance that she would run in the 4x100m relay final on Friday (9 August).
She did not.
The Jamaican quartet that took to the track for the relay did not feature the 37-year-old Fraser-Pryce, who had been open about the Olympic Games Paris 2024 being her final Games.
Three Olympic gold medals, eight podiums, five Olympics over 16 years. The Jamaican superstar made her debut at the Games at Beijing 2008 and announced herself in the most iconic of ways: As Olympic 100m champion.
What has followed that victory is one of the great all-time sprint careers, with 10 more golds at the world championships, and another five podiums. After becoming a mother in 2017, Fraser-Prcye would go on to win two more Olympic medals - and a world title in the 100m in 2022.
"It is difficult for me to find the words to describe the depth of my disappointment," Fraser-Pryce wrote on social media after her 100m withdrawal. "The support of my fans, my country and the larger community has rooted me in immense gratitude that has sustained me throughout my career."
"My faith has always affirmed my trust in my journey," she added.
What comes next in that journey? That's for the rest of us to sit back and find out.