Jamaican sprinter appeals for help for junior athletes

Kingston (Jamaica), Sep 10 (IANS/CMC):

Two-time Olympic 100 metre champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has called on the Jamaican government to provide more support, especially for the country’s junior athletes.

Fraser-Pryce, also Olympic 200 metre silver medallist, made the call on her return to Jamaica after the conclusion of her professional track and field season, reports CMC.

She touched down at the Norman Manley International Airport Saturday to be greeted by an official welcome involving government officials, sponsors and heads of sporting associations.

“I am a professional athlete and, yes, I might have money, but there are things that are needed for our younger athletes,” said Fraser-Pryce.

“What about our younger athletes who are coming up and are not financially stable now, those are the persons who need the support.”

Fraser-Pryce ended her season Aug 30 with an impressive 10.83 seconds victory in the 100 metres at the Zurich Diamond League meet in Switzerland.

“I am coming from the doctor in Miami and I can tell you that treatment is expensive, especially in sports medicine,” Fraser-Pryce said Sunday.

“We represent our country and we would love our country to represent us, in the sense that we need the support because support is a huge part of who we are.”

The top Jamaican sprinter also called on the public to show a lot more respect for the country’s athletes, since she said, they have earned it.

“We represent our country and we would love our country to represent us, in the sense that we need the support because support is a huge part of who we are.”

In last month’s 100 metres final at the Olympics, Fraser-Pryce edged the American Carmelita Jeter at the finish line to become the first woman to win back-to-back medals since Gail Devers of the US in 1992 and 1996.