PARIS, France (CMC) – Reigning women’s 200 metres World champion, Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, said yesterday she would not defend her title at the World Championships in Beijing next month.Speaking to media here ahead of today’s Areva Diamond League meet here, the 28-year-old confirmed she would not participate in the half lap in an attempt to focus on the 100 metres.
“No, for sure, only the 100m,” Fraser-Pryce said, in response to a question about competing in the double in Beijing.
“It was a decision that was taken by my coach since last year that we’ll opt to do just the 100m this year and just focus on getting back to where I used to be in 2008.”
She added: “He believed I strayed a bit from the 100m in terms of my explosive starts. So we’ve been going back to the 100m, bearing in mind that next year is the Olympic Games.”
Fraser-Pryce is one of the most successful sprinters of the contemporary era. She won gold in the 100m at the London 2012 Olympics and grabbed silver in the 200m, before sweeping both sprints at the Moscow World Championship the following year.
She will have fond memories of Beijing, having won Olympic gold there in 2008.
Despite the decision to overlook the 200m for this year’s World Championships, Fraser-Pryce said she would be eyeing the double at the Rio Olympics next year.
“The 200m was good, it definitely helped me to run the 100m a little bit better and a little bit stronger,” she explained.
“Going back to just the 100m for this year, I’m looking forward to it, as opposed to next year when I will definitely be doubling.”