Jamaica at the 12th IAAF Championship - Part 2

Let me start out by saying nothing can take away from the fact that Usain Bolt deserves all the congratulations and accolades that are being offered. He is a phenomenal athlete who in time will probably go down as the best ever. I cheered along with everyone else wanting him to beat the world records, we werent worried about Tyson Gaye beating him, we knew that would not happen. We were cheering Asafa Powell to beat Gaye, and for Steve Mullings to also medal in the 200M.

Three athletes however struck a deep chord with this writer and their victories meant more to me than anything else.

SHELLY-ANN FRASER

This young lady won the 100M at the Jamaica Trials and went on to win Gold at the 2009 Olympics in Beijing and yet the discussion in Jamaica was always "Kerron can beat Shelly, Kerron is faster, Kerron will win Gold in Berlin". I never once believed that Kerron Stewart would beat Shelly-Ann Fraser. Taking nothing away from Kerron who has done extremely well on the European circuit and as far as I know is still unbeaten in the 100M, but the determination that I saw on this young lady's face and the pure unadulterated joy in her celebration will stay with me for a long time.

Shelly obviously doesnt have the "top end" speed that Kerron Stewart and others have, but her lightning quick start is her weapon and she uses it unmercilessly. I am sure she has heard all the discussions around her, all the predictions that she will be beaten by Kerron Stewart and she could have allowed that to affect her, but she hasnt. She took to the track and did what she did best "Get a lightning fast start and then hang on for dear life".

I was not surprised when she won the Gold - Congratulations Shelly Ann Fraser.

MELANIE WALKER

Melanie Walker can be easily described as "the people's champion". She's the one who when being interviewed calmly and comfortably drops into the Jamaican vernacular and speaks her mind. Take nothing away from Kerron, Usain or Shelly-Ann's interviewing skills but Melanie always first and foremost call out to all the "ghetto people dem from Maxfield Avenue" and inspires them with her words to "hold their heads up and strive for what you want in life".

TVJ got her on the telephone just after her win and asked her what would she say to inspire people looking on and everybody in the office at the time stood transfixed, there was the ocassional snicker when she used "raw ghetto slang" but there was almost not one dry eye when she was finished and I felt pretty damn inspired after listening to her.

She's a true champion who ran an exceptional race in the Olympics and who came to Berlin and out ran an athlete who everyone expected to beat her. Again, I had no such doubt, I knew she would have won. Jamaicans, no matter if they are from Maxfield, Waterhouse, Tivoli Gardens, Rema or Liguanea and Manor Park all love winning.

Congratulations to Melanie Walker - The People's Champion

BRIGITTE FOSTER-HYLTON

Brigitte Foster-Hylton for me is the athlete that inspired me most. Similar to Veronica Campbell (another favourite of mine) she has gone out year after year and done her best. There have been times when she has been injured at critical times, lost her rhythm in the finals or just not run well enough to win and she has never complained and gotten bitter over it.

She stuck it out through a period in time when it was obvious that they were competing against athletes who were getting medical assistance and this situation caused the retirement of hurdler Gillian Russel (another favourite of mine) way to early in her promising career, Brigitte soldered on, determined to be a champion.

After disappointment in Beijing, Brigitte decided to retire, but was convinced by her coach to give it one more try and this time was the charm. At 34 years old she ran the race of her life and won. In an era of the 22 years old Champion, she's an inspiration for people like me who left 22 years old nearly two decades ago.

I cried when she won that race. I cried in joy for Brigitte and Deloreen Ennis-London who won bronze, I cried for Michelle Freeman, Gillian Russel, Grace Jackson, Merlene Ottey and others who would have mined Gold a long time ago if the playing field had been level.

Jamaica comes away from these games with 13 medals, and most importantly with inspiration. A whole new generation of athletes are being inspired by what is happening now and are training 6 days a week for hours on end, so that they can emulate their heroes, so they can be like Usain or Asafa or Melanie or Shelly-Ann or Kerron or Shericka, etc. etc.