Jamaica’s national treasure Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was today officially presented with the Keys to the City of Kingston as hundreds of students and well-wishers lined Marescaux Road to welcome the Queen of sprinting.

A beaming Fraser-Pryce, arrived in an opened-top Toyota Land Cruiser as she waved royally to her screaming, flag-waving ‘subjects’ including politicians, the clergy, and sports administrators all greeting her at her alma mater Wolmer’s Girls School.

Fraser-Pryce, considered the greatest woman sprinter of all time, has won two Olympic 100m gold in 2008 and 2012 and is the only person—male or female—to win five World Championship 100m titles.

The Douglas Orane Auditorium was bursting at the seams in a sea of light blue and white screaming young ladies wanting a glimpse of the track icon.

Dwight Richards serenaded the Olympian with a beautiful rendition of Cece Winans gospel hit Goodness Of God while playing his trumpet.

The function bereft of representation from the Government’s top brass saw PNP’s candidate Raymond Pryce as the Master of Ceremony as Milton Samuda, Chairman of the Wolmers Trust on welcoming duties.

Invocation was done by Father Craig Mairs followed by a musical tribute from the school’s choir and another by the dance troupe. There were remarks from Fraser-Pryce’s sponsors Digicel’s chief marketing officer Tari Lovell and GraceKennedy’s chief executive officer Frank James respectively.

Head coach Michael Carr along with principal Colleen Montague brought greetings before the Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby and his team presented the Keys to the City of Kingston to Fraser-Pryce.

In attendance were the Leader of The Opposition Mark Golding along with Julian Robinson and Dennis Gordon.

Chris Samuda, president of the Jamaica Olympic Association and JAAA president Garth Gayle were also present and the man whose auditorium the function was kept — Douglas Orane — turned up. Fellow Olympians Julian Forte who attended Wolmer’s Boys along with Nesta Carter showed up in support of their fellow athlete.

Fraser-Pryce dressed in yellow and black sleeveless top and black pants — looking very much like when she represented Jamaica on the world stage — said she was grateful and honoured.  

“I literally wanted to cry because I was coming down in the car this morning—I don’t think you guys understand how from Waterhouse to Wolmer’s to the world stage. I don’t think you understand the power of community in how much the journey has been rooted in faith, in perseverance started here at Wolmers,” said Fraser-Pryce told loud cheers.

“I don’t take this lightly because I believe in impact. I believe in making sure that the next generation that comes after me will understand and trusting the timing of your life. Trust that God is good,” she implored the students.

“No matter what the journey looks like now, time will honour your greatness,” she added. “It’s not without hard work, it’s not without sacrifice, it’s not without perseverance, it’s not without family, it’s not without my team.”

Fraser-Pryce, while accepting the Keys to the City, said she hopes she has access to it, morning noon and night, front key and back of the city.

Having attended Wolmer’s in 1999, Fraser-Pryce said she was amazed that 26 years on, she still sees the same principal, same coach and some teachers in 2025 after she was presented with a beautiful glass depicting seven pillars, a symbol of her seven years at the school. 

She said Wolmer’s Girls changed her life and in return, she gave back to the school a whopping US$50,000 (J$7.8m) and presented a symbolic cheque to Principal Colleen Montaque.

“I spoke about how much Wolmer’s has been important in this journey and how much they have poured into me and how much she has been a rock, a beacon of hope not just to me but to every Wolmerian,” Fraser-Pryce noted. “Thank you for all that you have done for me and Wolmer’s so this is a donation, a token of my gratitude to help you continue the work here at Wolmer’s.”