"No medal tonight has zero effect" - Michael Johnson lauds Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's "secure legacy" ahead of Paris Olympics 100m SF

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will compete in the women's 100m semifinals on Saturday night, aiming to secure a spot in the final and add another medal to her impressive collection. The Jamaican easily advanced to the semifinals with an electrifying performance in the first round, clocking 10.92 seconds for second place.

Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith edged Fraser-Pryce with a time of 10.87, the fastest in the first round of the women’s 100m. Her time is the second fastest overall in the qualifiers.

Fraser-Pryce has previously stated that the Paris Olympics will be her final Olympic appearance, adding extra motivation to her quest for another medal to cap off her illustrious career.

All eyes will be on Fraser-Pryce to deliver another stellar performance, but legendary sprinter Michael Johnson believes her legacy is already secured. The four-time Olympic 400m champion contends that the Jamaican sprint queen has achieved everything possible in the sport, and whether she wins a medal in the women's 100m or not, her status as a sporting icon remains undisputed.

Here's a look at a post shared by the official handle of the Olympic Games:

"Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is aiming for a fifth consecutive 100m medal.🥇 Beijing 2008, 🥇 London 2012,🥉 Rio 2016, 🥈 Tokyo 2020. Nobody in Olympic history has won five medals in a row in the same athletics event. Can she do it? #Paris2024 @Paris2024."

Johnson responded to the tweet by saying:

"Legacy secure! Another medal tonight only adds to it. No medal tonight has zero effect."

The 37-year-old has amassed eight Olympic medals: three gold, four silver, and one bronze. Of these, five were earned in individual events.

She clinched gold in the 100m at both the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics. Her silver medals came in the 200m at the 2012 London Olympics and the 100m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, while her bronze was secured in the 200m at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

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Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce speaks on making her fifth Olympic Games appearance in Paris

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce speaks on making her fifth Olympic Games appearance in Paris- Source: Getty

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is a member of the exclusive club of athletes with five Olympic appearances. The ongoing Paris Olympics marks her fifth Olympic journey.

Her Olympic debut came at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where she clinched gold in the women’s 100m. She subsequently competed at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the 37-year-old secured her fourth Olympic berth at the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The ten-time world champion told the Jamaica Observer that competing in her fifth Olympic Games is an honor, and she thanked God for her continued good health.

"Making my fifth Olympic Games is crazy and considering it is the fifth-straight Olympic Games is crazy. God has been good to me and has kept me," she said.

She joins the ranks of legendary marathoner Eliud Kipchoge, who is also making his fifth Olympic appearance.