2008 Olympic Wrap-Up

Jamaica earned eleven medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics; six gold, three silver and two bronze. We broke world records and Olympic records.

During the games, I featured only our gold medal winners. (The one exception to that was the dual silver medal won at the same time we won a gold.) That was in no way a slight to our athletes who earned silver or bronze medals. Instead, I wanted to focus on the best of the best, which in the Olympics is GOLD.

Now it is time to catalog our entire Olympic success story. We have so much to celebrate! Our Jamaican athletes made the world sit up and take note. I only hope our victories don't cause the Olympic Committee to put yam, dasheen and dumpling on the banned substance list!

GOLD:
Usain Bolt - Men's 100m
Usain Bolt - Men's 200m
Shelly Ann Fraser - Women's 100m
Melaine Walker - Women's 400m Hurdle
Veronica Campbell Brown - Women's 200m
Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell - Men's 400m Relay
SILVER:
Sherone Simpson - Women's 100m
Kerron Stewart - Women's 100m

Shericka Williams - Women's 400m
BRONZE:
Kerron Stewart - Women's 200m
Shericka Williams, Shereefa Lloyd, Rosemarie Whyte, Novelene Williams - Women's 400m Relay

Congratulations to our athletes, to their parents, and their coaches!

Carter, Frater, Bolt and Powell Win Gold

(Powell, Carter, Bolt, Frater)

Our Jamaican men's 4X100m relay team has won a gold medal for the first time in our history while setting a new world record.

Nesta Carter, age 22; Michael Frater, age 26; Usain Bolt, age 22; and Asafa Powell, age 25 have earned Jamaica's 6th gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Usain Bolt encourages Asafa Powell to run! Him seh, "Nuh linger!"

Veronica Campbell Brown Wins 200m Gold

At 26, Veronica Campbell-Brown has defended her 200m title while setting a personal best record and winning the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

This completes a Jamaican gold medal sweep of the men's and women's 100m and 200m events.

Jah, please let our nation work for peace and national prosperity with as much dedication and focus as our athletes have worked for their Olympic successes.

Melaine Walker Wins 400m Hurdles Gold

At 25, Melaine Walker set an Olympic record and won a gold medal for Jamaica in the 400m women's hurdle event. Before the run, when asked if she could win a gold medal, her mother was quoted as saying, "She's made up her mind to do it." And do it she did!

This was right on top of Usain Bolt's winning of his second gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Jah, your blessings are shining on our athletes and inspiring all Jamaicans.

Usain Unleashes Another Bolt of Lightening

No grand-standing, no loss of focus, no chest slapping, no slowing down before the finish line this time.

Just a new world record set by a Jamaican athlete who has run his way into history.

Usain Bolt set records and won gold medals in both the men's 100m and 200m events at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Blessed 22nd EarthStrong, Idren Usain! You have won the heart of every Jamaican around the world.

Shelly-Ann Fraser Wins The Gold

At 21 years of age, Shelly-Ann Fraser won a gold medal for Jamaica in the women's 100m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Because her team-mates, Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart, tied for second place, Olympic history was made. No other country in the world has had three athletes on the medal podium for the 100m event.

When Shelly-Ann was asked to reveal the secret of the team's success and she replied, "Reggae Power!"

Again, we thank you, Jah, for the courage and dedication of our Jamaican athletes who are making all Jamaicans feel proud.

Shelly-Ann, left; Kerron, center; Sherone, right

(The delay in getting this posted is courtesy of Tropical Storm Fay and JPS, Jamaica Powerless Service. We have had no electricity.)

Usain Bolt Wins The Gold

At 21 years of age, Usain Bolt won a gold medal for Jamaica in the men's 100m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Setting a record and making Jamaicans around the world shout with national pride, he made it look so easy.

Thank you, Jah, for the hope that a striving youth can bring to our struggling nation.