AUTHOR javno100
PHOTO javno100


INSPIRATION

AUGUST 17 2008 21:41h

Reggae Power and Bolt Spur Jamaican Women

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Fraser said Bolt`s explosive world record run to win Jamaica`s first men`s Olympic 100 metres title on Saturday had inspired her victory.

Shelly-Ann Fraser credited the power of reggae and the inspiration of compatriot Usain Bolt for the Jamaican sweep of the women's 100 metres medals at the Beijing Olympics on Sunday.

The 21-year-old Fraser won Jamaica's first gold medal in the women's blue riband sprint with Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart both taking silver after officials were unable to separate them in a photo finish.

"When I crossed the line and saw Sherone and Kerron there -- that was the moment. I wouldn't trade it for anything else," Fraser told reporters.

"Oh my God! That is too much. The secret of the team's success: reggae power."

Fraser said Bolt's explosive world record run to win Jamaica's first men's Olympic 100 metres title on Saturday had inspired her victory.

"Last night was amazing, it was crazy," she said. "I wanted to come out and do the same thing."Reuters-.--.-Shelly-Ann Fraser of Jamaica and compatriots Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson wave their national flag

After the race, American Torri Edwards said she thought she had false started and U.S Track and Field appealed against the result. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rejected the protest.

"I wasn't aware of anything going on about the false start, I just heard about it after I finished," said Fraser. Stewart was in the next lane to former world champion Edwards and acknowledged there had been movement.

"She was closer to me so I felt the false start but the race is over, there is nothing we can do about it. Jamaica came out on top," the 24-year-old said.

"I can't say it hurt me because I got a medal."

Jamaica has never been short of female sprinting talent.

Marlene Ottey won multiple Olympic medals, none of them gold, while Juliet Cuthbert won silver in Barcelona in 1992.

Tanya Lawrence finished on the podium in Sydney in 2000 and now has a silver after winner Marion Jones's medals were taken away from her for a doping offence.

Veronica Campbell-Brown, who was unable to make the 100 metres team for Beijing despite being the world champion, won bronze in Athens four years ago.

"It means a great deal for Jamaica, so many women before us came so close," said Fraser.

"It's a great accomplishment. Coming into the Olympics, people thought we weren't as experienced. Give us a chance -- we make the best of it."

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