A few days from the start of this year’s Olympic Games in London, Digicel, proud sponsors of the Jamaica Olympic team and sponsor of Olympic Gold medallist, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, recently spoke to the champion about food, training, her idols and her preparations for the start of the Olympics..

When asked about staying connected and grounded, Shelly-Ann says being away from home and family has it challenges, nevertheless, she thanks God every day for her blessings – which include her husband, Jason Pryce, with whom she stays connected to using her Digicel 4G Mobile phone.

In between training and perfecting her sprint technique, Shelly-Ann says she hopes to visit Buckingham Palace while she is in London and satisfies her hunger with some authentic Jamaican food. Her favourite dish – “Curried Chicken seasoned with Grace Foods’ Jamaican herbs and spices,” – is a regular staple in her diet that keeps her energised. On the subject of training and the competition, Shelly-Ann says; “At this stage of the athletics season, it is not about intensity, it is now more about fine tuning and getting everything right; I do not have a number one competitor, all ladies who earn a lane in the final are worthy competitors.”

In terms of Jamaican Olympians who inspire her, she immediately references Merlene Ottey, the 51-year old Jamaican sprinter who, in her 30-year career, amassed 34 medals in all major competitions, has made the most Olympic appearances of any track and field athlete in the history of the Games and is the oldest competing Olympian. Shelly-Ann admires Ottey’s determination over the years as she has been “holding it down for a long time” for female Jamaican sprinters.

At this year’s Olympic Games, she is set to face the likes of American sprinter, the reigning women’s 100m World champion, Carmelita Jetter, her fellow teammates, women’s 200m Olympic Gold medallist and 100m silver medallist, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Kerron Stewart respectively – as well as Nigeria’s fastest woman, Blessing Okagbare. To date, Shelly-Ann has won eight medals in her ten-year athletic career at both the youth and world championships, being one of only two female sprinters to hold both the World and Olympic 100m titles simultaneously.