Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce – The Rio Possibles

By winning 100 metre and 4×100 metre relay gold medals at Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce would set several Olympic records and bests. The following details which records Fraser-Pryce may achieve in Rio.

If She Wins a Gold Medal in the 100 metres in Rio, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Will …

  • Become the first woman to win 3 consecutive individual gold medals in track & field athletics. Previously this has only been accomplished by Evelyn Ashford in the 4×100 relay, and Sanya Richards-Ross in the 4×400 relay. (Reader Phil Minshull has noted, correctly, that Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) would beat SAFP to this distinction if she wins the women’s 10K, which is held the day before the women’s 100 final.)
  • Become the 7th woman to win 3 consecutive individual gold medals in any Summer Olympic event. The previous six were: Larysa Latynina (URS-GYM / floor exercise, 1956-64); Dawn Fraser (AUS-SWI / 100 m freestyle, 1956-64); Krisztina Egerszegi (HUN-SWI / 200 m backstroke, 1988-96); Anky van Grunsven (NED-EQU / individual dressage, 2000-08); Saori Yoshida (JPN-WRE / 55 kg freestyle, 2004-12); and Kaori Icho (JPN-WRE / 63 kg freestyle, 2004-12). (Again, note disclaimer above re Tirunesh Dibaba.)
  • Equal the record for individual gold medals in Olympic athletics by women, with 3. Seven women have won 3 individual gold medals in Olympic athletics. They were: Fanny Blankers-Koen (NED / 1948); Betty Cuthbert (AUS / 1956/64); Tamara Press (URS / 1960-64); Tatyana Kazankina (URS / 1976-80); Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA / 1988-92); Marie-Josée Péréc (FRA / 1992-96); and Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH / 2008-12).

If She Wins Two Gold Medals in Rio, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Will …

  • Equal the record for most gold medals in Olympic athletics by a women, with 4. Six women have previously won 4 Olympic athletics gold medals, as follows: Fanny Blankers-Koen (NED / 1948); Betty Cuthbert (AUS / 1956/64); Barbel Eckert-Wöckel (GDR / 1976-80); Evelyn Ashford (USA / 1984-92); Sanya Richards-Ross (USA / 2004-12); and Allyson Felix (USA / 2004-12). It should be noted that Felix will compete in the 400 metres and 4×400 relay in Rio, and could extend that record.
  • Equal the record for most medals in Olympic athletics by a woman, with 7. The record is held by Shirley Strickland de la Hunty (AUS / 1948-56); Irena Szewińska-Kirszenstein (POL / 1964-76); and Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM / 2000-12). VCB will compete in Rio and could extend this record, as could Allyson Felix (USA), who has 6 medals going into Rio.

One thought on “Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce – The Rio Possibles”

  1. Incorrect stats here.
    Merlene Ottey currently hold the record for most Olympic medals with 9! Quite an achievement to overlook don’t you think…

Comments are closed.