LONDON — Jamaicans gathered in London erupted with joy as Usain Bolt romped to victory on Sunday, chanting his name with high hopes his success will boost their nation’s image and inspire their youth.
Bolt’s win in the 100 metres final, with fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake coming second and teammate Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce taking the women’s 100m title a day earlier, cemented the Jamaican athletes’ status as the fastest in the world.
For Jamaica the timing was perfect, as the heavily indebted Caribbean nation celebrated 50 years of independence from Britain yesterday, and the wins highlight its strengths, as it considers cutting final ties with its former colonial master.
The Jamaican community in London said it was also in need of some good news with the recession in Britain sending unemployment rates soaring among young black people, who were blamed in part for the street riots in London last year.
