World 100m joy again for Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
The Jamaican speaks of inspiring mothers-to-be after clinching her fourth 100m world title ahead of Dina Asher-Smith in Doha
Athletics
There was no catching Jamaica's #MommyRocket in Doha.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was in a class of her own in the women's 100m final at the IAAF World Championships.
The 32-year-old made her customary lightning-fast start and there was only one winner from thereon.
Fraser-Pryce won her fourth 100m athletics world title in 10.71s, just one-hundredth of a second outside her own personal best and Marion Jones' championship record.
Dina Asher-Smith finished strongly to take silver in a new British record of 10.83s with Cote D'Ivoire's Marie-Josee Ta Lou third ahead of Olympic champion Elaine Thompson.
It was Fraser-Pryce's first global crown since giving birth in 2017 and her eighth in total to go with her two Olympic titles.
She went on her lap of honour - in front of near-empty stands - with her two-year old son Zyon and told the BBC afterwards that she hoped her triumph would inspire women contemplating starting a family:
"Zyon and my husband, my family have been my strength. When everybody else doubted, they never did. And for me, having my son and coming back and performing the way I did... it's just hoping that I can give inspiration to all the women who are thinking about starting a family or currently starting a family and wondering if they can come back.
"You can do anything. It's about who you are and why you started in the first place." Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce speaking to the BBC
She added that her raceday preparations had been far from ideal.
"I had no sleep last night. I could not sleep. The last time I was at a major championships was in 2016, and that feeling of 'Oh my God, I need to go to bed', it was not happening."
"But I'm glad I came out here and for me, it was just experience, knowing that some days are going to be good. But it's the mental toughness that will be able to get you through and I was able to come away with a victory."
Fraser-Pryce certainly did not show any ill-effects from her sleepless night, clocking the quickest time in the semi-finals - 10.81s - to cruise through to the final.
She will not run the 200m at these championships, but hopes to claim her ninth world title with Jamaica in the 4x100m relay.
For Asher-Smith, her silver was her first global medal and Britain's first in the women's 100m at the World Championships.
She told BBC, "A PB, a national record - that is more than you can ask for in a final. Shelly-Ann did a fantastic performance and that's why she's an absolute legend.
The Londoner is a warm favourite for the 200m which starts on Monday and added, "I'm going to go to bed, hopefully get some sleep and make sure that I turn up in the right state of mind tomorrow."
Women's 100m world champions
2019 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM) 10.71s
2017 Tori Bowie (USA) 10.85s
2015 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM) 10.76s
2013 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM) 10.71s
2011 Carmelita Jeter (USA) 10.90s
2009 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM) 10.73s
2007 Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM) 11.01s
2005 Lauryn Williams (USA) 10.93s
2003 Torri Edwards (USA) 10.93s
2001 Zhanna Pintusevich-Block (UKR) 10.82s
1999 Marion Jones (USA) 10.70s CR
1997 Marion Jones (USA) 10.83s
1995 Gwen Torrance (USA) 10.85s
1993 Gail Devers (USA) 10.82s
1991 Katrin Krabbe (GER) 10.99s
1987 Silke Moeller (GDR) 10.90s
1983 Marlies Goehr (GDR) 10.97s