Jamaican sprint legend Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won her record fourth women's 100 meters world title in Doha on Sunday in stunning style but in a stadium that was barely half-full.

The 32-year-old – also a two-time Olympic champion – coasted to an impressive victory in a world leading time for the year of 10.71 seconds.

Fraser-Pryce – sporting a multi-colored wig – punched the air in front of the Jamaican team seated in the stands before taking a national flag from them.

She picked up her two-year-old son Zyon – he was born the day after the 2017 championships had finished which prevented her from defending her title in London – and paraded with him round the track passing sections that were totally void of spectators.

"To be standing here as world champion again after having my baby, I am elated," said Fraser-Pryce.

"The females keep showing up. We love to put on a performance and for me I am just really happy to come away with the win."

Returning mothers lit up the World Championships

Fraser-Pryce and American legend Allyson Felix, both racing in their first major championships since taking time off from the sport to have children, lit up a pulsating day three of competition even if the action was played out inside a near-empty Khalifa Stadium.

Felix broke Usain Bolt's gold medal record tally on Sunday.

She only returned to the sport in July after a 13-month layoff which saw her give birth to her daughter Camryn by emergency C-section last November.

The 33-year-old, who failed to qualify for the individual 400m event in Doha, took gold in the 4x400m mixed relay as the U.S. motored to victory in a world record time of 3min 09.34 seconds.

Felix's 12th gold medal broke Jamaican legend Bolt's record tally of 11 World Championship gold medals.

Fraser-Pryce, who proved her talent when she took the Olympic gold 11 years ago in Beijing, confessed that nerves on the eve of the finals got to her.

"I had no sleep last night. Last time I was at a major championship was in 2016 and that feeling of 'oh my God I need bed' — it was just not happening.

"For me it is just experience and knowing some days will be good but mental toughness will get me through."

Fraser-Pryce, who won her first world 100m title in 2009, said having Zyon had given her a real boost even though he is yet to show the same aptitude having refused to start his first race at nursery school earlier this year.

"My son Zyon has been my strength, my family and husband have been my strength," she said.

"Having my son and coming back, performing the way I did, I hope I can give inspiration to all the women starting family or thinking of starting a family.

"You can do anything. It's about who you are and why you started in the first place."

Fraser-Pryce, though, announced later at a press conference there will be no tilt at a second world sprint double.

"My coach made the decision I would not be doing the 200," she said.

"He believes I am not really back and did not want to push me too much.

"He believes I will definitely do the double in 2020 (Olympics) and I have to trust him he is the coach."

Fraser-Pryce's 'long journey' has golden ending

Fraser-Pryce revealed afterwards that having Zyon in 2017 had taken its toll.

"It is definitely harder coming back," she said.

"When I was having my son I was trying to have him naturally (she was in labor for 13 hours) it was not happening.

"I was really scared having a C-section.

"I was off 10 weeks unable to lift weights on my back so doing a lot of hand weights it was definitely a long journey physically."

Fraser-Pryce — who along with her two brothers was brought up in poverty in Kingston by her single mother Maxine — also had her doubts in the immediate aftermath of Zyon's birth.

"Mentally it was even harder because you are 30, you are worried about coming back and not being really at the same level," she said.

"It is definitely one of those moments that I am very proud of," she said.

"For athletics and women it is hard to come back to sprinting.

"I remember in 2018 when I was getting back I did not have enough power coming out of the blocks and over the first 30 meters.

"It stressed me out and took a lot of work to put it right."

Fraser-Pryce — who spends a lot of her free time talking to poor children from the area she grew up in, warning them about the dangers of drugs and telling them they too can succeed — said her victory was one for all mothers.

"For Zyon to witness tonight is a moment to cherish," she said.

"He reminded me of how hard I had to fight especially as many see that for a woman a baby should not be till you are finished.

"But I had other plans."

Fraser-Pryce said she was pleased to have proven the doubters wrong.

"I just did not listen. I am one of those people who don't read too much," said Fraser-Pryce, who will run the 4x100m relay but not contest the 200m.

"Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I knew how I felt and I was not ready to go.

"I had something left to do, so I focused on the dream and set my sights on the target."