Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce says she is looking forward to regaining her competitive rhythm when she lines up in Friday’s women’s 100m at the Doha Diamond League, after racing sparingly over the past two to three seasons.

Speaking during a pre-meet press conference on Thursday, the Jamaican sprint icon revealed that while training has been going extremely well, she is eager to test herself in actual race conditions after several interrupted seasons.

“For me, the last two years I’ve raced sparingly, so I really want to get back into that rhythm,” said Fraser-Pryce, who won a bronze medal as a member of Jamaica's 4x100m relay team at the World Relay Championships in China last weekend.  “I want to get back into some competitive races and just know where I’m at.”

She described her current preparation as one of the best she’s experienced in recent years, raising expectations ahead of her Diamond League season debut.

“Training has been fantastic—by far the best year I’ve had in terms of training in the last three years,” she said. “So I’m really looking forward to just executing and putting the race together tomorrow. I think it’s going to be special.”

With the 2025 World Athletics Championships set for late September in Tokyo, Fraser-Pryce said the unusual timing has given her more time to recover, train deliberately, and avoid injury—particularly valuable as she manages her body in the later stages of her career.

“Being that the World Championship is all the way in September, I think it works for some of us,” she said. “You peak for that one championship and then you're done. I actually like that setup. You don’t have to regroup and find energy for more races after that, which can be hard—mentally and physically.”

She pointed to the flexibility in her training plan as a key factor in her preparation this year.

“Days when I’m not feeling 100 per cent, I have the flexibility to take that time, regroup, and go again,” she noted. “That’s made a huge difference. It’s not just about working hard anymore—it’s about working smart.”

Doha holds a special place in Fraser-Pryce’s heart, not just for the competition but for the moment it gave her as a mother.

“2019 was really special for me,” she said, recalling her stunning comeback world title after giving birth. “After turning 30 and having my son, people put you in a box. But I came back and crossed that line, and had my son on the track with me. That was truly special.”

Despite a decorated career that includes eight Olympic medals and ten World Championship golds, Fraser-Pryce says the desire to win and run fast remains undiminished.

“I want to win. I want to run fast. That hasn’t changed,” she declared.