The world's fastest man, Asafa Powell, hugs his mother, the Reverend Cislin Powell, on his arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston yesterday. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE WORLD'S fastest man, Asafa Powell, returned to the island yesterday to a hero's welcome - merely one day after breaking the world's most prestigious track and field record: the 100 metre sprint.
The young Jamaican nipped Tim Montgomery's three-year-old record of 9:78 seconds by :01 to set the new mark (9:77) at the Super Grand Prix meet in Athens' Olympic Stadium and lift the spirits of his countrymen.
After touching down at the Norman Manley International Airport on an American Airlines flight at 5:10 p.m., Powell was greeted by a throng of well-wishers including parliamentarians, family, track club teammates, executives of the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) and former and present Olympians.
Even before the plane touched down, almost everyone - including staff members at the airport who left their stations - were ready to congratulate the man who pulled off one of Jamaica's greatest track and field achievements.
"I would like to say thanks for everybody coming out to support me," a broadly grinning Powell said at a press conference in the airport's VIP Lounge.
Powell, also the world's No. 1 overall male athlete, thanked his parents by saying that he was glad for the opportunity to make them happy again.
