Usain Bolt (C) of Jamaica celebrates with teammates Yohan Blake (R) and Warren Weir after men's 200m final, at London 2012 Olympic Games, London, Britain, Aug. 9, 2012. Jamaican athletes Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Warren Weir won gold, silver and bronze medals in this event. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
MEXICO CITY, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Jamaicans everywhere celebrated on Thursday following their country's historic sweep of the gold, silver and bronze medals in the men's 200m sprint at the London 2012 Olympic Games, according to report reaching here.
After star sprinter Usain "The Lightening" Bolt scored the top medal by running the race in 19.32 seconds, followed by teammates Yohan Blake (19.44) and Warren Weir (19.84), who garnered the silver and bronze, residents in the capital Kingston and elsewhere poured into the streets, dancing, honking their horns and hugging each other, local media reported.
Under the headline "Lighting Bolt strikes again," leading newspaper Jamaica Observer blared the trio's achievement in an online article.
"Jamaica's sprint king Usain Bolt reaffirmed his status as a 'legend,'" the Observer said.
The article went on to mention that the 1-2-3 sweep took fellow sprinters by surprise, especially U.S. medal hopeful Wallace Spearmon, who came in fourth and congratulating the three at the finish line.
"There was never a doubt in my mind that I wouldn't finish in the top three," the observer quoted Spearmon saying afterwards. "Right now it is just surreal. Congratulations to them. I just have to work harder."
Jamaica's triple medal win is only the seventh time the 200m race has been swept by a single country at the Olympics, and the first six times it was done by the United States, reported online news magazine Go Jamaica.
"Jamaica has proven that we are the greatest sprint country. I've got nothing left to prove," Bolt told reporters after the race, adding "I'll never forget this. Lane seven has been good to me these past few days."
Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller praised the athletes, saying "Once again they have done us proud."
Jamaica may still win more gold at the upcoming 4x100m relay race on Sunday.
