Olympic and world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce received a big honor on Monday.
The talented Jamaican sprinter won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award at the 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards that took place in Paris.
“I was thrilled to be nominated alongside such inspiring women athletes, and to win this award, voted for by some of the greatest sportsmen and women of all time, is just amazing,”Fraser-Pryce said to World Athletics. “This is the sixth time I’ve been nominated in this category, so to finally hold the Laureus statuette in my hands is one of the greatest honours of my career.
When athletes have the spotlight, it’s important the example we set is the best it can be,” she added. “We have a responsibility to influence the next generation in a positive way and that’s what the Laureus Awards are all about.”
Fraser-Pryce was among an impressive group of women who were nominated for the award, such as Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky, alpine skier Mikaela Shriffin and tennis player Iga Świątek.
Fraser-Pryce added to her storied career last summer at the World Championships in Oregon, where she won her 5th 100m world championship, while also taking home the silver medal in the women’s 200m as well as the 4x100m relay for Jamaica.