THE HAPPIEST WOMAN IN BEIJING

by Alyssa Roenigk

After Usain Bolt set the world record in the 100 meters Saturday night, Jamaica's Sports Minister Olivia Grange had to wait more than an hour in the media mix zone to congratulate her country's newest Olympic gold-medal winner in person. Wednesday night, after the 200-meter finals, she was having nothing of the sort.

Once Bolt crossed the finish line in yet another record-breaking time, Grange bolted down to the first row of the stands near the finish line and waited for Usain to make his way to her. As he took a victory lap around the track, the "Happy Birthday" song began to play over the loudspeaker. "Is it midnight?" Grange asked. "It is Usain's 22nd birthday on the 21st." What a gift.

Once Bolt spotted the minister, he walked to her, wrapped her in the Jamaican flag he'd carried on his victory lap and the two embraced. "I can't believe it," Bolt said, as she reached up and wiped a tear (or sweat, we're not entirely certain) from his eye. He did the same for her. "I can not believe it," he said again.

Grange is having a good Olympics. Maybe the best Olympics of anyone here in Beijing. The day after Bolt smashed the 100-meter world record, Grange watched three Jamaican women sweep the 100 meters. Wednesday, after Bolt's second world-record performance, Melanie Walker won the women's 400-meter hurdles with an Olympic record 52.64 time. So far, the Jamaicans have won seven medals, four of them gold, and all in track and field.

"I am overwhelmed," Granger said, clutching the Jamaican flag she had just waved frantically during both races. "I am overjoyed. It is unbelievable. He is unbelievable."

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