were Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce‘s coach Reynaldo Walcott’s words. In a career spanning around a decade and a half, the Jamaican sprinter has certainly achieved everything that an athlete would aspire for. Despite being part of four Olympic events previously, the 37-year-old is all set to travel to Paris for her fifth and final games!
After finishing third in the Jamaican Olympic Trials, Fraser-Pryce punched her ticket to the Paris Games. Alongside Shericka Jackson and Tia Clayton, the 37-year-old will also be in the Jamaican camp in the upcoming quadrennial event. While she gears up for her final Olympic outing, let’s dig deeper into her life and get to know the man who helped her succeed – her coach!
All about Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s coach Reynaldo Walcott
After parting ways with her longtime coach Stephen Francis in 2020, Fraser-Pryce started working with Reynaldo Walcott. While previously well-known for her work in the junior track and field circuit, Walcott served St Elizabeth Technical High School as their head coach. Some of his trained students succeeded greatly at the ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships.
Reynaldo Walcott is currently the head coach of Elite Performance Track Club (EPTC). However, he was previously associated with MVP Track Club, the same club that Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce represented earlier on. In 2020, soon after the Jamaican joined the EPTC club, she clocked 10.63 seconds at the JAAA Olympic Destiny Series, making her the second-fastest woman alive. Shimarya Williams, Winston Barnes, and Kemar Green were some of his initial clients alongside the 8x Olympic medalist.
What’s more interesting is Fraser Pryce isn’t the only big name that Walcott trains! Five-time Olympic gold medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah also joined him earlier in 2023 after parting ways with the New Era Track Club. Moreover, the Elite Performance Track Club coach has a different approach to working with both the Olympians!
Walcott has a perfect strategy for training track and field icons
Training two of the greatest sprinters of all time isn’t an easy task and nobody other than Reynaldo Walcott knows it better. In May 2024, the EPTC coach opened up on what it was like to work with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah. “I try to observe my notes and figure out which instructions will be of the biggest benefit but also try not to overdo or reinvent anything because they are not novices and they have done a lot of great things,” Walcott said according to Olympics.com.
His guidance has earned both the Jamaican sprinters reach great heights. While one of her clients, Fraser-Pryce is participating in her last Olympic games, it will be interesting to see if she can win another medal at the Paris Games. What are your thoughts?