By Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
BY NOW the country should be returning to some semblance of normalcy after the heroics of the Olympic Games ended in Athens, Greece, on Sunday.
However, while we will return to our lives, things will definitely never be the same for five young ladies Tayna Lawrence, Sherone Simpson, Aleen Bailey Veronica Campbell and Beverly McDonald, who all contributed to our historic 4x100m relay win.
WHIRLWIND OF EMOTIONS
For the duration of the track and field section of the Games, from Asafa Powell's failed attempt at a medal in the 100m to the bronze medal winning performance of the women's 4x400m team, we were caught up in a whirlwind of emotions from bitter disappointments to wild celebrations.
All our Olympians, from the swimmers, air rifle shooter, badminton player and track and field athletes, from those who failed to advance past the preliminaries to those who ended up on the top of the medal podium while the national anthem was being played, they all deserve our highest praise.
Getting to the Olympics is in itself a worthy achievement.
Amid all this however was the emergence of what to my mind is a real 'ambassador at large' and role model Veronica Campbell. One could not help but admire the poise, calmness and maturity with which she approached her races and the grace with which she accepted the accolades after the victories.
Veronica came across as mature beyond her 22 years, saying all the right things every time they put a microphone or tape recorder in her face and trying very hard not to leave out anyone from her all-age coach all the way up.
One could be led to believe that based on how she reacted all the way through, she had prepared for the moment not just in getting to the finish line first but also how to deal with the media and everything around her.
It is as the American media like to say 'Behave like you have been there before and will be back again'. The only time she appeared not to know what to do was after winning the 200m but Aleen was there to grab her and marched her over to the fans and then on to her victory lap.
Her reaction on the victory podium still gives me goose bumps, no matter how many times I have seen it. These were no made up tears. What we saw was serious bawling and even though she went there prepared to hear her anthem being played, it was still a very emotional experience for her, and the entire nation.
