Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce: ‘I started in Japan 2007’
“Obviously it was raining really, really hard but it was raining for all of us,” Jefferson-Wooden said. “My main goal was to just stay on the court, be disciplined while running and do the exchange.
“It’s crazy to be going home with three gold medals. I added my name to the history books once again. I am right where I want to be.
“I’m happy I did what I wanted to do individually and then came back together with my girls, my training partners and we were all able to walk away with the gold medal.”
The U.S. finished the meet with 26 medals including 16 golds. Only the injured Gabby Thomas was absent from the quartet who topped the podium at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Fraser-Pryce – who drew some of the biggest cheers from the National Stadium crowd throughout the Worlds and again on this night – was all smiles as the 10-times world champion hung up her spikes in the very country she began her climb to athletics stardom.
“Wow, you know I started in Japan 2007,” Fraser-Pryce said, referring to the championships in Osaka. “I was actually the reserve on the 4×1 team and I anchored that team. We got a silver medal.
“I started it tonight and to be able to hand over to our young, upcoming superstars and queens is truly fantastic – to be able to give them the opportunity to go for gold because ultimately that’s what I wanted.”