Shelly-Ann Fraser

Shelly-Ann Fraser O.D (born December 27, 1986) [http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/html/20080813T000000-0500_139009_OBS_FRASER_EXPECTS_GREAT_RESULTS_IN_____METRES.asp Fraser Expects Great Results in 100 Metres, Jamaica Observer, 13. Aug. 2008] ] is a sprinter who represented Jamaica at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Fraser ran races barefoot in primary school and later competed for Wolmer's High School For Girls. Fraser is the reigning Olympic champion over 100 metres, clocking a time of 10.78. [ [http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/sports/headlines/athletics/n214556656.shtml Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser wins Women's 100m Olympic gold] ]

2008 Beijing Olympics

Fraser, who trained for the Olympics with teammate Asafa Powell, became the first Jamaican woman in history to win an Olympic gold medal in the 100 metres sprint. In her first round heat, she placed first in a time of 11.35 to advance to the second round. She then improved her time to 11.06 seconds, finishing first in her heat. In the semifinals Fraser again finished in front, outsprinting Muna Lee and Lauryn Williams in 11.00 seconds.

In the final, Jamaican sprinters finished in the top three positions in the race, with a photographic tie for second place by Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart. (Both women were awarded silver medals; no bronze medal was awarded.) Fraser's time of 10.78 seconds was a personal best and 0.20 seconds faster than her Jamaican teammates. [http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/9/8003569.shtml Athlete biography: Shelly-Ann Fraser] , beijing2008.cn, ret: Aug 27, 2008] Fraser's Olympic time was the second-fastest 100 metres ever recorded by a Jamaican woman, a mere 0.04 seconds (1/25 of a second) shy of Merlene Ottey's 10.74 record.

Together with Sheri-Ann Brooks, Aleen Bailey and Veronica Campbell-Brown, Fraser also took part in the 4x100 metres relay. In its first round heat, Jamaica placed first in front of Russia, Germany and China. The Jamaica relay's time of 42.24 seconds was the first time overall out of sixteen participating nations. With this result, Jamaica qualified for the final, replacing Brooks and Bailey with Simpson and Stewart. Jamaica did not finish the race due to a mistake in the baton exchange.

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*iaaf name|id=198930|name=Shelly-Ann Fraser