Bizarre rule change ‘mix-up’ that saw former gold medal winner denied entry to area before pulling out of race

A Jamaican athlete fell victim to a sudden 'rule change' at the Paris Olympic Games that disrupted her preparation before a semi-final.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, 37, was due to compete in the semi-final of the women's 100m yesterday (3 August).

The veteran sprinter has won three Olympic gold medals in her career, and is one of the most decorated 100m sprinters of all time.

This was meant to be her final appearance at the Olympics, after she came through her heat on Friday (2 August) in second place, with a time of 10.92 seconds.

However, her semi-final showed 'DNS' (did not start) next to her name, for some reason.

Hours before, footage circulated showing the 37-year-old seemingly being denied entry into the Stade de France, where the event was taking place, as those at the perimeter security gate explained there was a last-minute 'rule change' for all athletes that looked to enter the stadium on Saturday.

Athletes who chose not to stay at the Olympic Village and therefore do not come in on the team bus were reportedly told to enter a different way, with Fraser-Pryce being one of them.

A viral video shows the legendary sprinter saying: "She [a security member] said they changed the rule yesterday.

"How can you change the rule and then not say? So you’re asking all athletes who, for whatever reason don’t stay at the village, they can’t come through the gate.

"We came through this gate yesterday and went through security and it was okay. They want us to go all the way up to where everybody is exiting… that’s crazy!"

As well as this, the sprinter has been dealing with a knee injury prior to the start of track events in Paris, and was pictured training with strapping on her right leg.

While Fraser-Pryce was eventually allowed in, Chef de Mission Ian Kelly later confirmed to Reuters that her withdrawal was because of injury.

Jamaica's team manager, Ludlow Watts, also addressed the situation.

Watts explained: "When we got the news she was warming up and so it came as a surprise to me.

"We only got the information that she is injured, but doctor Warren Blake is addressing the matter and we will speak further on the matter.

"This was a surprise and disappointment because the whole world would love to see Shelly in the Olympics.

"Apart from being a Jamaican, I am sure that people who love track and field would be very disappointed globally."

TF change rules!??? pic.twitter.com/DcMrhOYvoq

— Aljavaughnie (@MAljavonie52406) August 3, 2024

In her absence, Saint Lucia's Julien Alfred went on to win the semi-final and then the final, securing her country's first medal at any Olympics.

United States' Sha'Carri Richardson took silver and US teammate Melissa Jefferson bagged the bronze.

Retired athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill also weighed in on Fraser-Pryce's exclusion from the event.

She said: "That’s really sad.

"For Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce not to be able to complete the series in the way she wanted to - she will be devastated."

A Paris 2024 spokesperson told LADbible: “In reference to videos circulating online, Paris 2024 can confirm that some athletes tried to enter the warm-up track at Stade de France on 03 August through the wrong gate. They were redirected to the correct entrance and were able to access the venue.”