Why Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Shockingly Pulled Out of 100m Semifinal Revealed

It was a surprise withdrawal from the Jamaican sprinter who won the 100 in 2008 and 2012.

WASHINGTON — Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce did not race in Saturday’s 100-meter semifinal heat.

The sprinter was expected to be a top contender and no reason was initially given for the two-time Olympic champion’s late scratch. This is the 37-year-old’s fifth and final Olympics.

Olympic officials said she suffered an undisclosed injury. The letters “DNS” — “Did Not Start” — flashed on the scoreboard only moments before she was supposed to race Sha’Carri Richardson and Julien Alfred in the evening’s second semifinal.

“We only got the information that she is injured, but (a team doctor) is addressing the matter, and we will speak further on the matter,” team manager Ludlow Watts told the Jamaica Observer.

Alfred ended up beating Richardson in both the semifinal and the final to take the gold medal.

Fraser-Pryce’s withdrawal meant the entire podium from the last Olympic 100, including Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thompson-Herah, would not be in the final this time.

The Olympian previously won the 100 in 2008 and 2012.

Earlier in the day, Fraser-Pryce was one of several athletes blocked from entering the training track, the Jamaica team said on its social media site. The team said she was eventually let in.

Paris organizers said she merely came to the wrong gate, and had to go to a different one to get into the practice area.

She’s the second sprinter from Jamaica to withdraw from the 100-meter dash.

Just days before the track and field events got underway, Shericka Jackson of Jamaica announced she will not be participating in the race due to an injury she suffered earlier this month.

“It was a combination of things,” Jackson said. “I got hurt, and me and my coach felt like it was a good decision to only run one event.”