DAKAR, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce made the most of her first visit to Senegal, exploring Dakar's coastline, sampling local cuisine and visiting historic Goree Island during her stay in the West African country.
"I did not come here to lie down in the hotel. I came to be outside," the 39-year-old joked in an Instagram video posted on Wednesday, sharing highlights from her first two days in Senegal.
"There is something special about discovering a place through its people, culture, and history," Fraser-Pryce wrote in the caption.
The video showed the eight-time Olympic medalist taking a fishing boat trip along Dakar's coastline, sampling Senegalese jollof rice and visiting Goree Island, a historic site closely associated with the transatlantic slave trade.
"My time in Dakar gave me a chance to reflect on the richness of African heritage, the resilience of those who came before us, and the stories that connect us across generations," she wrote.
Fraser-Pryce said her visit was particularly meaningful because Dakar was hosting the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic sporting event to be held on African soil.
A longtime advocate for young athletes, the Jamaican has supported promising talents in her home country through the Pocket Rocket Foundation, which she established to help them pursue their sporting ambitions.
"I know firsthand the transformative power of sport, not only in shaping champions, but in creating opportunities, strengthening communities, and advancing nations," she said.
Fraser-Pryce won eight Olympic medals across five editions of the Games before retiring from competitive athletics in October 2025.
"This visit was a beautiful reminder of the importance of honoring our history while continuing to create new possibilities for those who will come after us," she added. ■
