Michaela Blyde and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Images via: Getty) — Michaela Blyde and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Images: All via Getty)

"When I saw her in person, my whole soul left my body" - Rugby player Michaela Blyde recalls her viral meeting with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

Modified Aug 29, 2024 05:06 GMT

2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist Michaela Blyde recently shared her experience of meeting Jamaican track and field legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce during the quadrennial event. This comes just a few days after her successful Paris Olympics campaign.

During the recent mega sporting event, a viral Instagram video showed New Plymouth’s Blyde gracefully running towards and embracing her idol, Fraser-Pryce, in the French capital. A couple of weeks later, the two-time Olympic gold medalist elaborated on that meeting during a recent episode of Dom Harvey's podcast.

Blyde opened up about the immense impact the Jamaican has had over her sporting career and also mentioned the generosity that Fraser-Pryce showed by coming to one of her games at the Paris Olympics. She said (at 34:49),

"Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is actually the reason why I wanted to win gold in the 100 and 200m at the Olympic games. It was my initial Olympic dream. When I tell you what it's like to meet an idol, it's so hard to explain because for so long I have watched you on TV. "

She further added,

"It's always about the fastest man on the planet but it's never about the fastest woman and she just really emphasized what it meant to be a very fast female in both the 100 and 200m. When I saw her in person my whole soul left my body and was watching me from above and then she said, "I'll come watch you play."

Even though Fraser-Pryce failed to earn a medal at the 2024 Paris event, her gesture towards a young athlete like Michaela Blyde is truly heartwarming and inspiring.

Michaela Blyde helps New Zealand clinch gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024

Michaela Blyde (left) during a match in 2017 (Image via Getty)

Michaela Blyde recently clinched her second Olympic medal at the French capital after the New Zealand women's rugby team defeated Canada in the gold medal match by a margin of 19-12. Canada settled for a silver medal, while the United States won the bronze medal.

Across the 2024 Paris event, Blyde contributed impressive performances, including in the crucial final, where she scored five points (a try). The 28-year-old scored ten tries during the quadrennial event, finishing second in the try scoring standings.

In addition to Blyde's impressive performance, Risi Pouri-Lane also contributed significantly to New Zealand's victory in the final. Pouri-Lane scored seven points, including a try, helping to secure the gold medal.