Triple world champion Jamaican in Namibia

Olympic and World Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was upon her arrival in Namibia welcomed by a group of school learners and people from all walks of life yesterday. The Jamaican sprinter is touring Namibia with the aim of meeting aspiring athletes in the country. She will be in the country for eight days, visiting five regions to have motivational talks with Namibian athletes. Deputy Minister of Sports, Youth and National Services Agnes Tjongarero welcomed Fraser-Pryce saying that Namibia is eager to learn from her. “We want you to inspire our aspiring athletes and to learn from you how it happened and what you did to become a champion,” she said. Tjongarero said with the cooperation between Namibia and Jamaica, she is optimistic that Namibian sports will improve and the next world champions will be from Namibia. At the 2008 Olympic Summer Games in Beijing, China, Fraser-Pryce became the first Caribbean woman to win a gold medal in the 100m sprint. She successfully defended her 100m titles at the 2012 London Olympics, becoming the third woman to win two consecutive 100m events at the Olympics. Fraser-Pryce won the 100m gold medal in the 2009 International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Championships in Berlin, Germany, becoming the second female sprinter to hold both World and Olympic 100m titles on two separate occasions. At the 2013 IAAF World Championship in Moscow, Russia, she became the first female sprinter to win gold medals in 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay in a single world championship. Fraser-Pryce is ranked fourth on the list of the fastest 100m female sprinters of all time, with a personal best of 10.70 seconds, set in Kingston. Addressing the crowd that welcomed her at the Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) Fraser-Pryce expressed gratitude for the reception she received at the airport. “I feel really welcome here, and the way I was received was wonderful,” she said. She will visit Khomas region, Omaheke region, Kunene region, Otjozondjupa, and Erongo region. KAINO NGHITONGO