(Jamaica Observer) Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has admitted that self-doubt plagued her early career.
The 25-year-old said it was after her epiphany about taking charge of her life that she began to focus, which resulted in her tremendous success in Beijing.
Fraser-Pryce was one of nine outstanding speakers who presented to over 400 team members at the 23rd Sagicor Motivational Seminar (SMS) at Iberostar Rosehall Suites Hotel in Montego Bay under the theme ‘On A Mission’.
The petite Fraser-Pryce gave a candid recount of her struggles and triumphs leading to her Olympic glory at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. “I used to think I wasn’t good enough to go to the Olympics, until I realised that only I can be in charge of me. That was when I started to focus,” shared Pryce.
Marcia Richards, chairman of the Planning Committee of the Sagicor Motivational Seminar, was pleased with this year’s staging of the event. “Our staff members are extremely pleased and the committee is proud because each year we try to do even better than the previous year. It gets more challenging each time because we take pride in planning a world-class seminar,” said Richards.
The annual three-day event engages team members in several activities with the main purpose of enhancing skills and inspiring team members. Presenters included Margaret Audain, Loeri Robinson, Derek Mills, Patrick Smith, Kevin Wallen, Sharon McConnell, Willie Jolley, and internationally renowned Sheryl Lee Ralph.
Fraser-Pryce spoke from the heart and kept the audience engrossed in a riveting presentation. She recounted her childhood days of wearing ‘hand me downs’, late evenings due to after-school training sessions and how she overcame an initial lack of confidence.
Addressing the ‘On a Mission’ theme, Pryce pointed out that her mission at the recently concluded London 2012 Olympics was to retain her title — mission accomplished.
Richards was impressed with Fraser-Pryce’s presentation. “It is not often that you find someone as young as Shelly-Ann being able to captivate such a large audience over a fairly long period of time. We are honoured to have had her and are truly inspired by her determination,” declared Richards.
The Sagicor Motivational Seminar is a part of activities geared to fulfil Sagicor’s mandate to continuously enhance the morale and self-help skills of team members from the region through inspirational speakers and the spirit of camaraderie in a relaxed setting.