Olympics rocked by Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce drama as athletics stunned by never-before-seen moment

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has revealed her disappointment at being denied a chance to run for gold at the Olympics, following a bizarre situation for the Jamaican sprint sensation in Paris. Fraser-Pryce was a mysterious no-show for the semi-finals of the women's 100m sprint and therefore failed to feature in the final as Julien Alfred raced into the record books by claiming St Lucia's first ever gold medal in Olympic Games history.

Alfred claimed gold in 10.72 seconds, with reigning world champion Sha'Carri Richardson finishing strongly to claim the silver in 10.87, ahead of fellow American Melissa Jefferson (10.92). But it was the absence of Tokyo Games silver medallist Fraser-Pryce that quickly became one of the biggest talking points at the track.

Commentators, spectators and fellow athletes were shocked when Fraser-Pryce didn't line up on the blocks for the semi-final, with reports emerging that she'd been refused entry to the stadium by security officials. “That’s pretty surprising to me. I don’t know what happened,” Jamaican teammate Tia Clayton responded when asked about the three-time Olympic gold medallist's absence.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce denied entry to track in Paris

Around two hours before she was due to race, footage began circulating on social media that showed Fraser-Pryce and compatriot American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson being denied entry to the warm-up track. Some reports claimed it was because the pair turned up in a private vehicle and not an official team bus but Jamaican officials later clarified that the sprinters tried to enter at the wrong point.

“She said they changed the rule yesterday,” Fraser-Pryce said in a video showing the athlete arguing with security staff. “How you going to change the rule and then not say? So you’re asking all the athletes who, for whatever reason, don’t stay in the Village, they can’t come through the gate? We came through this gate yesterday and went through security and it was OK. They want us to go all the way up to where everybody is exiting... that’s crazy!”

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce confirms she suffered an injury

Reports quickly began circulating that the Jamaican star had to withdraw from the semi-final because her and Richardson were denied entry to the track - despite the fact the American went on to claim silver. But Jamaica's Chef de Mission Ian Kelly soon cleared up the bizarre situation after revealing Fraser-Pryce was eventually let in but had to pull out after suffering an undisclosed injury during warm-ups.

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“There is no truth that she was not allowed to enter the stadium. Unfortunately she was not able to compete due to an injury sustained during her final warm-up," Kelly told Reuters. Fraser-Pryce confirmed as much in a shattering post on social media. "It is difficult for me to find the words to describe the depth of my disappointment," she wrote. "I know that my supporters share and shoulder this disappointment with me. I am truly Blessed to have had the steadfast support of my fans since my Olympic debut in 2008. With every step and win, you have all been there for me."

Julien Alfred wins 100m for St Lucia's first ever Olympic gold

The Jamaican's despair came in stark contrast to St Lucia's history-maker Alfred, who was overcome with emotion after her never-before-seen feat in Paris. Alfred broke down in tears as she dedicated the tiny Caribbean nation's first ever Olympic Games gold medal to her late father, having finished first in the 100m final in a time of 10.72 seconds.

"Dad, this is for you - I miss you," Alfred said. "I did it for him, I did it for my coach and God." The 23-year-old's father passed away in 2013 and the emotion was understandable considering the enormity of the achievement. "It means a lot to me. It means a lot to my coach. It means a lot to my country," the 23-year-old added as she choked back tears. "I'm sure they're celebrating right now."

Alfred's historic triumph sparked wild scenes back in her homeland of St Lucia - the tiny Caribbean nation with a population of just 180,000 people. One video posted to social media shows a large group of supporters watching the final on an outdoor TV screen in St Lucia's capital city Castries, with the crowd going absolutely bonkers as the sprinter raced her way into history and cemented her newfound status as a national hero.

with AAP