Children can enjoy Olympics reading ‘Promise’ by Golden Girl
A page from the book “I Am A Promise.” Akashic Books
SAVE A LIFE
Save a life through organ
and tissue donation.
Carmen, donor mother
Her son’s legacy lives on in
those he saved through
organ donation.
Caribbean Life, AUGUST 13-19, 2021 11
When an eight-time Olympic
winner gives assurances that
anything is possible, take heed…
anything is possible.
Jamaican sprinter Shelly Ann
Fraser-Pryce knows from experience
running on the world stage
in the 60 metres, 100 metres and
200 metres races.
An acclaimed super-achiever
from global performances at multiple
Olympics in Beijing, China,
London, England, Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, and most recently at the
32nd Olympiad in Tokyo, Japan
she said this year’s will be her
last.T
hrough all the medal-winning
showcases, the Jamaican Golden
Girl always ran away a winner.
She amassed a whopping nine
gold and two silver medals in
World Championship competitions
held in Osaka, Japan; Berlin,
Germany; Daegu, South Korea;
Doha, Qatar; Moscow, Russia and
Beijing, China
However, the world seemed
to really take notice during her
2008 Olympic debut in China
when as a member of the triumvirate
to sweep the 100metres dash
mined gold to become the firstever
female from the Caribbean to
claim the coveted prize.
Four years later, in Europe
back to back victory cemented
the Golden Girl title she honed
previously as fastest woman in
the world.
On her return home, her hand
luggage also included two silver
medals from London representing
podium positions for the
200metres and 4×100 relay.
South America was where she
clocked second and third place
finishes to garner a haul which
included silver and a bronze.
Last week she returned home
from Asia carrying two precious
metals – silver and gold.
Since her 2008 outing in the
Far East, Shelly Ann has been
regaled coupling with Usain
Bolt as the speediest genders on
earth, the “Pocket Rocket” and
aligned with anything pertaining
to speed.
She was not born that way
but with perseverance, hard work,
and diligence emerged a champion
her country rewarded with
the Order of Distinction, the third
highest honor in the country.
Married to Jason with a fouryear
old son named Zyon, the 100
metres speed mobile has often
inspired many by talking about
her journey.
Raised in the less-than-affluent
Waterhouse community in Kingston,
the eldest of three siblings
knew she was special.
She said she was always fast.
“As tiny as I was. I was also fast
and I loved to run.
“I ran to school.
I ran to shop
“I ran like a rocket
I ran to be free.
I ran everywhere”
That’s what the now eighth
time Olympic champion penned
in a book for children titled “I Am
A Promise.”
Simply written she tells a compelling
story about running faster
than any of her friends.
“As I grew older and entered big
school, I kept running and running
and training hard because
that’s what I loved to do…”
Jamaicans refer to high school
as ‘big school’ and the place ambitious
and talented youths get
their first chance at tested competition.
Each year, there’s a showdown
between high schoolers called
Champs.
Actually the Boys and Girls
Championships attract spectators
of all ages.
It is there most test their mettle.
If worthy a few are chosen to
compete against age-similar high
school track stars from the Caribbean
and the USA at the Penn
Relays in Pennsylvania.
Catch You On The Inside!
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce
hen I lost my son, the decision to donate was
difficult for us, but I am so grateful I made that choice.
Now I volunteer and tell others the story of how
organ donation helped our family heal and honor my
son’s legacy.
-Carmen, donor mother Learn more at LiveOnNY.org
Carmen,
donor mother
Wh
d ffi l
/LiveOnNY.org