Jamaica has created history by placing 1,2,3 in the Women’s 100m Final at the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing. It was the first time in the history of this particular event at the Olympics that one country was sweeping all the medals. It was also the first time since 1988 that one country was sweeping both men (Usain Bolt) and women’s 100meters.

Shelly-Ann Fraser from the troubled Kingston inner city community of Waterhouse, won the event easily in a time of 10.78, the joint fastest time for the year and the second fastest time ever by a Jamaican woman (Merlene Ottey was fastest with 10.74). It was the best medal haul a country could hope for as the other 2 athletes, Sherone Simpson and Kerone Stewart were in a dead heat in 10.98 and will both receive the silver medal.

The 21 year old Fraser, prior to this season, was previously unknown even to Jamaicans. She burst on the scene at the Jamaican National trials earlier this year, defeating reigning 100 meters World Champion, Veronica Campbell-Brown into fourth place to eliminate her from the 100meters event at the Olympics.

Campbell-Brown will run in the 200 meters (in which she has the fastest time in the world this year) along with the 4×100m relay. Incidentally, Jamaicans have the 4 fastest times in the world this year by Veronica Campbell-Brown, Kerone Stewart, Sherone Simpson and Shelly-Ann Fraser in that order. Fraser failed to qualify for the Olympics in this event so another 1,2,3 placing is not impossible, though American Allison Felix will strongly disagree.

It is quite ironic that many Jamaicans were suggesting that Shelly_Ann Fraser should have been scratched to make way for Veronica Campbell-Brown, as they said Fraser had no experience. Now, the in-experienced Fraser is  Olympic Champion! I hope those doubters have learnt their lesson. She was a winner at the local Boys and Girls Championship for High Schools several years ago, but got complacent, stopped training and faded from memory. Like so many athletes, she was given a life-line, training at the local MVP club under coach Stephen Francis. Now, she is the first Jamaican woman to win a gold medal in the 100 meters event.

The Americans lodged a protest after the race, claiming that their own runner Tori Edwards false started and it was not called, causing her to finish last. This is quite unlike the US and seems quite unsportsmanlike. This appeal was rightly rejected and resulted in the Jamaicans having to wait until Monday to fill the flagpoles with the black, green and gold at the medal presentation.

Thanks to the IAAF for its rigid drug policy that has somewhat leveled the playing field allowing the athletes from the Caribbean region to rise, at least that’s what they are saying in Jamaica!

Here is a Jamaicanized video of pictures from both men and women’s 100 meter finals: