Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, fresh off announcing her retirement from track and field, will be honoured this Friday at the ATHLOS event at Icahn Stadium in New York. The crowning moment—literally—will be led by none other than Serena Williams, cementing a powerful meeting of two of sport’s greatest female icons.
The news was revealed by Alexis Ohanian, Reddit co-founder and founder of ATHLOS, during an appearance on CBS Mornings alongside Fraser-Pryce. “This is the legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce… Even as an outsider to the sport, you know this name, you know this icon,” Ohanian said. “Something that was so important for us is not just to have a special Tiffany crowning moment for Shelly-Ann at our event, but also another GOAT, Serena Williams, doing the crowning.”
ATHLOS, Ohanian’s newly launched women-only professional track and field series, aims to revolutionize the sport by adopting a Formula One–style model—complete with major sponsorships, prize purses, and streaming partnerships. The initiative seeks to elevate women’s athletics to new commercial and cultural heights, blending competition with celebration. “It aligns with what we are trying to build here… a great moment to pause and reflect on greatness,” Ohanian added.
During the interview, Fraser-Pryce reflected on her 18-year journey in athletics, a career that saw her win three Olympic gold medals and ten World Championship titles. “I have given 18 wonderful years to track and I think it is time for me to do more off the track,” she shared. “I’ve done so much for the sport—for Jamaica, for women’s sprinting—and I really want to continue to elevate it using my voice in another lane.”
ATHLOS confirmed the tribute in a social media post, describing Fraser-Pryce as a generational force whose “lifetime of speed, excellence and legacy” will be celebrated. As she prepares to step away from the starting blocks, Friday’s crowning ceremony promises to be a fitting send-off for the “Pocket Rocket”—a woman whose impact has transcended the track and continues to inspire the next wave of champions.
