Olympics legend locked out of stadium, doesn’t show up for race

Jamaican sprint queen Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce inexplicably didn’t show up for the semi-finals. It has rocked the Olympics.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce appeared to be locked out.

Viewers around the world were stunned to see Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s lane was empty at the start of her women’s 100m semi-final on Sunday morning (AEST).

The world was given no heads up about the Jamaican sprint queen’s withdrawal — and it took several minutes before the mystery appeared to be solved.

It was still what everyone was talking about when Julien Alfred scorched the Stade de France track to be crowned the world’s fastest woman.

Alfred (10.72s) raced down the straight in a national record as she beat home two Americans - Sha’Carri Richardson (10.87) and Melissa Jefferson (10.92).

It was initially reported Fraser-Pryce didn’t show up for the earlier semi-final because the three-time Olympic champion had been denied entrance and locked out of the Olympic stadium’s training area.

The rumours outraged fans, and word spread across the world when a video emerged that showed Fraser-Pryce and American superstar Sha’Carri Richardson trying to convince security personnel to let them through at one of the perimeter gates of Stade de France.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce appeared to be locked out.

As first reported by News Corp, both athletes arrived at the venue in private vehicles rather than the team shuttle and were told they would have to get another way into the venue.

Fraser-Pryce was seen in one video arguing that she had entered through the same gate a day earlier for the 100m heats and hadn’t been informed of the rule change.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is denied entry at one of the gates.

“She said they changed the rule yesterday. How can you change the rule and then not say? So, they’re asking all the athletes who, for whatever reason, don’t stay in the village, they can’t come through the gate?” Fraser-Pryce said.

“We came through this gate yesterday and went through security and were okay. The man said we have to go all the way up where everybody else is entering to come back down here. That’s crazy.”

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s heat. Photo by Antonin THUILLIER / AFP)

Word quickly filtered through, however, that Fraser-Pryce’s absence from the final was because she suffered a hamstring injury in warm-up.

The suggestions from Jamaican camp appear to be that the stress of being locked out of the venue may have contributed to the sprint sensation’s injury when she eventually managed to start her warm-up.

The Jamaican legend broke her silence on the controversy in an Instagram post on Sunday (AEST) in which she thanked supporters but didn’t go into detail about why she pulled out of the event.

“It is difficult for me to find the words to describe the depth of my disappointment,” Fraser-Pryce wrote.

“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.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in action during the heats. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

“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.

“Thankyou for continuing to be with me today and every day.”

Meanwhile, Richardson did show up for the final and finished second to Julien Alfred in the semi-final before finishing second behind her again in the final.

Fraser-Pryce, 37, who won the 2008 and 2012 100m titles, had already announced she would be retiring after the Paris Olympics.

It was Julien Alfred’s night. Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP.

History made. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images.

Fraser-Pryce may still add to her total haul of 24 global medals if she managers to be part of Jamaica’s women’s 4x100m team, who won gold in Tokyo three years ago.

Fraser-Pryce was bidding on Sunday (AEST) to make the 100m podium at a fifth successive Olympic Games after being denied a third title by teammate Elaine Thompson-Herah in Tokyo three years ago.

Alfred, meanwhile, created her own moment of history when she won Saint Lucia’s first gold medal.

Alfred — who had never finished on the podium at a major outdoor championships prior to Saturday’s final — conjured a superb race to upset USA’s Richardson, who had been hotly tipped to become the first American to win the coveted Olympic crown since Gail Devers in 1996.

But the 24-year-old Texan found herself outgunned by the powerfully built Alfred, who led from start to finish after exploding out of the blocks at a rainswept Stade de France.

Alfred was in tears of celebration after sealing a sensational win, running to ring the trackside victory bell before wrapping herself in her country’s flag and embracing her American rivals.