Defending champion Veronica Campbell-Brown completed on Thursday night Jamaica's sweep of all the men's and women's sprint gold medals at the Beijing Olympic Games.
Campbell-Brown clocked her personal best of 21.74 seconds and took home the women's 200m gold. Two-time world champion Allyson Felix of the United States finished in her season's best of 21.93 seconds. Another Jamaican Kerron Stewart, who also won the women's 100m bronze, with 22.00 seconds, in Beijing, got the third in the half-lap race.
The upset Felix said, "I'm definitely disappointed but happy to be here. I can't complain. I just have to pick myself up from here and go forward."
The American said she was not surprised at the success of Jamaican sprinters. "I'm not surprised, but I'm disappointed. I expected more from myself. They are dominating it and running well."
Stewart said, "We've been saying it but I don't think anyone's been taking us seriously. I guess they are now. I think as a team we're dominating the sport."
Three of the eight finalists created their personal bests and one her season's best, which somewhat proved the track in the Bird's Nest is a fast one as said by many elite sprinters.
Campbell-Brown's victory has fulfilled the Jamaican dream of taking all golds of the 100m and 200m sprints in both men's and women's competitions, following Shelly-Ann Fraser's win in the women's 100m dash on Aug. 17.
Usain Bolt stunned the world by winning the men's two sprint golds and smashing both world records. Bolt has been the first sprinter who was crowned the enviable glory of double sprint golds since legendary U.S. Carl Lewis did the same in 1984 in Los Angeles, the United States.
The Jamaicans have showed more splendid feat in Beijing than what their national hero Don Quarrie did 32 years ago in Montreal, Canada.
The Jamaican sprinting fleet is now setting its goal on grabbing the sprint relays titles at the Beijing Games.
(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2008)