HOT: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has reportedly signed a $13.5 million deal with Netflix to make a documentary series about her life after her last appearance at the World Championships in Tokyo sparked heated debate online ‘Why not an American superstar?’

In the electrifying world of track and field, where split-second decisions define legacies, Jamaican sprint icon Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has just sprinted into a new chapter—one that promises to captivate audiences far beyond the stadium. Reports emerging from Caribbean media outlets like WIC News indicate that the 38-year-old retiree has inked a staggering $13.5 million deal with Netflix for a seven-episode documentary series chronicling her extraordinary life and career. The announcement, which surfaced just days after her emotional farewell at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, has ignited a firestorm of discussion online. At the heart of the debate? A pointed question echoing across social media: “Why not an American superstar?”

Fraser-Pryce’s final bow on the global stage couldn’t have been more poetic. Eighteen years after her debut as a reserve on Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team at the 2007 Worlds in Osaka, Japan, she returned to the Land of the Rising Sun to close the curtain. The Tokyo National Stadium, packed with 60,000 roaring fans, erupted in applause as her name was called—a rare honor typically reserved for local heroes. In the women’s 100m final on September 13, she clocked 11.03 seconds to finish sixth, a respectable showing for a sprinter who, at her peak, owned the third-fastest time in history: 10.60 seconds set in 2021. But it was the 4x100m relay three days later that provided the perfect swan song. Leading off alongside young stars Tia and Tina Clayton and Jonielle Smith, Fraser-Pryce powered Jamaica to a season’s-best 41.79 seconds, securing silver behind a dominant U.S. team anchored by the treble-winning Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.

“I have had an amazing career and today’s medal is the icing on the cake,” Fraser-Pryce said in the mixed zone, her voice steady despite the weight of the moment. “My son will be excited. Today is a full circle moment for me… I couldn’t have it any other way.” With that silver, she etched her name deeper into the record books, amassing 17 World Championships medals—10 golds, six silvers, and one bronze—across nine appearances. Add five Olympic medals, including double golds in the 100m at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, and her haul cements her as the most decorated female 100m sprinter ever. Only Allyson Felix, with 20 Worlds medals, outpaces her in total hardware, but Fraser-Pryce’s six individual golds stand alone.

Yet, for all the grace in her goodbye, Tokyo wasn’t without controversy. Her sixth-place finish in the 100m—behind Jefferson-Wooden’s championship record of 10.61—sparked immediate backlash on platforms like X (formerly Twitter). American fans, still buzzing from their relay triumph, flooded timelines with frustration. “Why pour millions into a Jamaican retiree when Sha’Carri or Gabby could use the spotlight?” one viral post read, garnering thousands of likes. Another quipped, “Netflix loves the underdog story, but why not an American superstar like Noah Lyles’ rival? This feels like globalism over patriotism.” The sentiment tapped into broader tensions in sprinting’s golden era, where U.S. depth—bolstered by stars like Richardson and Thomas—often clashes with Jamaica’s sprint dynasty. Hashtags like #WhyNotAmerican trended briefly, with critics arguing the deal overlooks homegrown talents who dominated Paris 2024 and Tokyo 2025.

Defenders were quick to counter, hailing Fraser-Pryce as a trailblazer whose story transcends borders. “Shelly carried Jamaica on her shoulders with grace, power, and pride,” tweeted Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, sharing footage of the relay. Usain Bolt, her compatriot and sprint GOAT, echoed the praise: “There are no words to explain how great Shelly-Ann is.” Even Jefferson-Wooden, the 24-year-old American who swept the 100m, 200m, and relay in Tokyo—mirroring Fraser-Pryce’s 2013 treble—paid homage: “Shelly-Ann is the greatest of all time. She inspired me as a kid.” Online, Jamaican users and global fans pushed back with montages of her triumphs: the fearless comeback after motherhood in 2017, her defiant return from a heartbreaking COVID-forced withdrawal in Tokyo 2020, and her 2025 “unfinished business” season after injury sidelined her in Paris 2024.

The Netflix series, reportedly distinct from the streaming giant’s existing “Sprint” docuseries (which followed elite 100m racers like Fraser-Pryce herself toward Paris), promises an intimate portrait. Spanning seven episodes, it will delve into her rise from Waterhouse, a tough Kingston neighborhood, to global icon—touching on body-shaming she endured early in her career, her advocacy for Black women’s representation in sports and beauty, and her role mentoring the next generation. “This isn’t just a documentary; it’s a tribute to perseverance,” sources close to the production told Caribbean News Network. Fraser-Pryce, ever the compartmentalizer, hinted at her post-track plans in Tokyo: “I want to focus on advocacy, support women and athletes.” The deal, valued at $13.5 million, underscores her marketability—a savvy investor in her sport, as British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith noted: “Everybody knows Shelly; she’s a phenomenal investor for our sport.”

This heated discourse reveals the sport’s evolving narrative. While American stars like Richardson draw massive U.S. audiences, Fraser-Pryce’s universal appeal—rooted in resilience and reinvention—makes her a streaming goldmine. Her story isn’t just about speed; it’s about defying odds in a sport where 70% of Olympians compete just once, per FiveThirtyEight data. At 38, she retires having podiumed in 13 straight global championships, missing only the 2017 Worlds for maternity leave. “I walk away knowing who I am and what I achieved,” she reflected. “I showed women that you can be more; you don’t have to limit yourself. Time will honor greatness.”

As production ramps up, expect the debate to simmer. Will the series silence critics by showcasing Fraser-Pryce’s influence on American rivals like Jefferson-Wooden? Or will it fuel calls for a stateside counterpart? One thing’s certain: in a world craving authentic heroes, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce’s sprint into storytelling ensures her flame burns brighter than ever. Jamaica’s “Pocket Rocket” didn’t just run the race—she redefined the finish line.