Bolt gets hero's welcome

He sprinted then danced his way into the hearts of Jamaicans everywhere and on Monday they came from far and wide to welcome their Olympic hero Usain Bolt back home from his exploits in Beijing.

Throngs of airport staff, family, friends, government officials, well-wishers, and media greeted the lanky sprinter on the tarmac of the Norman Manley International Airport two weeks after the end of the 2008 Games in China.

The athlete, who created Jamaican and Olympic history by winning gold medals in the 100m and 200m in world record times and was part of the gold medal men’s 4x100m relay, stopped for two athletics meetings in Europe on the long journey back.

Even the sun came out for Bolt.

It peeped from behind clouds heavy with rain from the outer bands of Hurricane Ike which passed close to the island yesterday, at the moment the door of the Virgin Atlantic aircraft ‘Hot Lips’ was opened.

Red carpet

The red carpet was rolled out as the 22 year old pointed to the sky in his signature ‘Jamaica to the world’ pose, whipping the waiting crowd into frenzy. It became almost impossible to breath as the crush of fans tried to get close for a glimpse of their idol.

“I’m just happy to be home,” Bolt told reporters.

Raindrops plopped slowly as he was quickly ushered into a waiting convertible which was to lead a motorcade through Kingston to the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel where a press conference was scheduled.

It was pelting rain minutes later but that didn’t hinder the soaked fans or the school children who poured into the streets waving black, green, and gold-Jamaica flags, cheering and shouting their adoration.

Traffic was backed up for miles from the Harbour View roundabout along the Palisadoes spit to the airport.

Dozens more were waiting outside the Pegasus which stands just opposite Emancipation Park and inside the hotel itself.

McKenley

At the press conference, Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, said his only regret was that Jamaican Olympic legend Herb McKenley was not around to witness Bolt’s triumph.

McKenley, who was the island’s most renowned Olympian before Bolt, died on November 26 last year. Even he never won an individual Olympic gold medal.

In true ‘Bolt’ style, the guest of honour came from the head table to demonstrate the ‘Nuh Linga’ and ‘Gully Creeper’ for those present as Jamaican dancehall artiste Mavado performed his Bolt tribute “I am on the Rock”.

The remaining members of Jamaica’s historic 2008 Olympic Games team will be feted in a nine-day celebration beginning on October 3.