A three-time Olympic gold medallist who was filmed being denied entry to the arena before pulling out of her race has spoken out.
Jamaica’s champion athlete seemed to end up the victim of a rule-change ‘mix-up’ yesterday (3 August) when she was due to race in the women’s 100m semi-final.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has three Olympic gold medals to her name and is famously one of the most decorated 100m sprinters of all time.
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And this year in Paris was set to be her final appearance at the games and she secured her place after finishing second in her heat on Friday with a speedy time of 10.92 seconds.
However, fans were left a little baffled when ‘DNS’ (did not start) showed up next to her name at the semi-final with no immediate reason given.
The sprinter did not make it to the semi-finals. ( Sam Barnes/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
But footage soon started to go viral, showing the 37-year-old being denied entry to a warm-up track.
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Fraser-Pryce could be hear saying: “They’ve changed the rules, we always come through this gate.”
And those at the perimeter security gate explained there was a last-minute ‘rule change’ for athletes entering the Stade de France.
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The athletes not staying at the Olympic Village don’t travel in on the team bus and were reportedly told to enter a different way, with the Jamaican sprinter being one of them.
A viral video shows Fraser-Pryce saying: "She [a security member] said they changed the rule yesterday. How can you change the rule and then not say?
“So you’re asking all athletes who, for whatever reason don’t stay at the village, they can’t come through the gate.
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"We came through this gate yesterday and went through security and it was okay. They want us to go all the way up to where everybody is exiting… that’s crazy!"
The Jamaican team said on social media that the legendary athlete was eventually permitted entry with chef de mission Ian Kelly later confirming to Reuters her withdrawal was due to injury.
"Mrs Fraser-Pryce was allowed to enter the warm up track but from another gate from which she was directed to enter from," he said.
"There is no truth that she was not allowed to enter the stadium. Unfortunately she was not able to compete due to an injury sustained during her final warmup."
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And Fraser-Pryce took to social media to respond to her withdrawal from the race.
The sprinter is a legend. (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
“It is difficult for me to find the words to describe the depth of my disappointment,” she said.
“I know that my supporters share and shoulder this disappointment with me. I am truly blessed to have had the steadfast support of my fans since my Olympic debut in 2008.
“The support of my fans, my country, and the larger community has rooted me in immense gratitude that has sustained me throughout my career.
“With every step and win, you all have been there for me. My faith has always affirmed my trust in my journey. Thank you for continuing to be with me today and every day.”
Paris 2024 said in a statement to LADbible: “In reference to videos circulating online, Paris 2024 can confirm that some athletes tried to enter the warm-up track at Stade de France on 03 August through the wrong gate. They were redirected to the correct entrance and were able to access the venue.”
Team GB's current medal count - 33
Sholto Carnegie, Rory Gibbs, Morgan Bolding, Jacob Dawson, Charlie Elwes, Tom Digby, James Rudkin and Tom Ford picked up gold for rowing (Tom Weller/VOIGT/GettyImages)
Gold medallists
- Rosalind Canter, Laura Collett, Tom McEwen: Equestrian - Eventing team
- Tom Pidco*ck: Mountain Bike - Men's cross country
- Nathan Hales: Shooting - Men's trap
- Tom Dean, Kieran Bird, James Guy, Jack McMillan, Matthew Richards, Duncan Scott: Swimming - Men's 4x200m freestyle
- Alex Yee: Men's triathlon
- Lauren Henry, Lola Anderson, Hannah Scott and Georgina Brayshaw: Rowing - Women's quadruple sculls
- Bryony Page: Gymnastics - Women's individual trampoline
- Emily Craig and Imogen Grant: Rowing - Women's lightweight double sculls
- Ben Maher, Harry Charles and Scott Brash: Equestrian - Team jumping
- Sholto Carnegie, Rory Gibbs, Morgan Bolding, Jacob Dawson, Charlie Elwes, Tom Digby, James Rudkin and Tom Ford: Rowing: Men's eight
Silver medallists
- Anna Henderson: Cycling - Women's individual time trial
- Adam Peaty: Swimming - Men's 100m breaststroke
- Tom Daley and Noah Williams: Diving - Men's synchronised 10m platform
- Adam Burgess: Canoe Slalom - Men's canoe single
- Matthew Richards: Swimming - Men's 200m freestyle
- Kieran Reilly: Cycling - Men's BMX Freestyle
- Helen Glover, Esme Booth, Sam Redgrave and Rebecca Shorten: Rowing - Women's coxless four
- Oliver Wynne-Griffith and Thomas George: Rowing - Men's pair
- Benjamin Proud: Swimming - Men's 50m freestyle
- Duncan Scott: Swimming - Men's 200m individual medley
Bronze medallists
- Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen: Diving - Women's synchronised 3m springboard
- Kimberley Woods: Canoe - Women's slalom
- Laura Collett: Equestrian - Eventing individual
- Beth Potter: Women's triathlon
- Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix and Lois Toulson: Diving - Women's synchronised 10m platform
- Oliver Wilkes, David Ambler, Matt Aldridge and Freddie Davidson: Rowing - Men's coxless four
- Mathilda Hodgkins-Byrne and Becky Wilde: Rowing - Women's double sculls
- Jack Laugher and Anthony Harding: Diving - men's synchronised 3m springboard
- Heidi Long, Rowan McKellar, Holly Dunford, Emily Ford, Lauren Irwin, Eve Stewart, Harriet Taylor and Annie Campbell-Orde - Rowing: Women's eight
- Emma Wilson: Sailing: Women's windsurfing
- Jake Jarman: Artistic gymnastics - Men's floor exercise
- Lottie Fry, Becky Moody and Carl Hester: Equestrian - Team Grand Prix Special
- Alex Wilson-Haydock, Laviai Nielsen, Samuel Reardon, Nicole Yeargin: Athletics - Mixed 4x400m relay
