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...they first became known. Here is one such of our athletes. ...and that is why I am posting this in the "Everything Jamaica Forum".
SHELLY ECLIPSES VCB IN BRAND RECOGNITION
Last week it came to public attention that Shelly-Ann Frazer-Pryce was named Ambassador Special Envoy. The two-time Olympic and 2013 triple World Champion and her husband, Jason, were also issued diplomatic passports. It was an honour truly deserved for the young lady who just a few years ago, Jamaicans didn’t even want to be a member of Jamaica’s Olympic team to the 28th Olympiad in Beijing, China.
Few remember now the public outcry when Shelly finished second at the national championships behind Kerron Stewart to book her spot to the Olympics. Many of the same people who celebrate her successes now were the ones calling for the youngster to give up her spot to her more celebrated countrywoman Veronica Campbell-Brown, who they had more faith in to bring home a gold medal, Jamaica’s first in the 100 metres. This notwithstanding the latter finishing fourth at the national championships.
One can imagine how that must have hurt the youngster still fresh from her days at Wolmer’s High School for Girls and who had already been ridiculed as an alternate at the World Championships in Osaka the year before. The members of the JAAA must be thanking their lucky stars that they did not yield to public opinion at the time based on what SAFP has gone on to accomplish on and off the track.
There are those who are wondering why Campbell-Brown was not given a similar honour seeing that she has been around a lot longer than SAFP and has accomplished just as much, more, if you add what she accomplished in her career as a junior athlete. But what Fraser-Pryce has done better than her more senior compatriot is that she has made herself into a brand that is growing in value.
Now this is not to pit the women against each other. This is just a look at the key difference between the two. The main reason I believe Shelly is now an ambassador and Veronica Campbell-Brown is not.
http://gleanerblogs.com/sports/?p=2617
SHELLY ECLIPSES VCB IN BRAND RECOGNITION
Last week it came to public attention that Shelly-Ann Frazer-Pryce was named Ambassador Special Envoy. The two-time Olympic and 2013 triple World Champion and her husband, Jason, were also issued diplomatic passports. It was an honour truly deserved for the young lady who just a few years ago, Jamaicans didn’t even want to be a member of Jamaica’s Olympic team to the 28th Olympiad in Beijing, China.
Few remember now the public outcry when Shelly finished second at the national championships behind Kerron Stewart to book her spot to the Olympics. Many of the same people who celebrate her successes now were the ones calling for the youngster to give up her spot to her more celebrated countrywoman Veronica Campbell-Brown, who they had more faith in to bring home a gold medal, Jamaica’s first in the 100 metres. This notwithstanding the latter finishing fourth at the national championships.
One can imagine how that must have hurt the youngster still fresh from her days at Wolmer’s High School for Girls and who had already been ridiculed as an alternate at the World Championships in Osaka the year before. The members of the JAAA must be thanking their lucky stars that they did not yield to public opinion at the time based on what SAFP has gone on to accomplish on and off the track.
There are those who are wondering why Campbell-Brown was not given a similar honour seeing that she has been around a lot longer than SAFP and has accomplished just as much, more, if you add what she accomplished in her career as a junior athlete. But what Fraser-Pryce has done better than her more senior compatriot is that she has made herself into a brand that is growing in value.
Now this is not to pit the women against each other. This is just a look at the key difference between the two. The main reason I believe Shelly is now an ambassador and Veronica Campbell-Brown is not.
http://gleanerblogs.com/sports/?p=2617