Tony Becca

Every passing year has its own bundle of memories and 2008 was no exception. In fact, when everything is considered, including this country's tradition of greatness in sport, as far as Jamaica is concerned 2008 must be numbered among the best, if not underlined as the best, its memories tipped to last forever.

Last year, a leap year, was an Olympic year and in winning six gold medals, three silver medals and two bronze medals and setting three world records, Jamaica enjoyed their best ever performance at the prestigious Games.

Golden monents

Beijing was a happy hunting ground for Jamaica, no question about that. And as far as the other sports and the rest of the world are concerned, the flashing spikes of the Jamaicans were not the only golden memories of 2008.

For me, the others, the ones that really glittered, included Roger Federer versus Raphael Nadal at Wimbledon in what must have been one of, if not the greatest tennis match ever played; sisters Venus and Serena Williams in the quarter-finals of the US Open in what, arguably, must have been the greatest women's tennis match off all time; India's victory (387 for four in the final innings of the match) over England in Chennai; and South Africa's victory (414 for four in the final innings of the match) over Australia in Perth.

And lest I forget, apart from his glorious four and six off the last two deliveries from the great left-arm swing bowler Chaminda Vaas to win a one-day match for the West Indies, there was also Shivnarine Chanderpaul's brilliant batting from January to December - 909 runs with three centuries in 16 Test innings at an average of 101, seven times batting undefeated to the end of the innings and one time last man dismissed.

Lasting image

The question, however, is this: what is the memory from last year that will last you throughout this year, probably throughout next year, if not forever?

Jamaica's gold medal winners in Beijing included Veronica Campbell-Brown and Usain Bolt, Melaine Walker and the 4x100 men's relay team. Although Campbell-Brown won the women's 200 metres for the second time in a row, even though Walker's feat was historic as far as Jamaica was concerned, with Bolt winning the sprint double, the 100 metres by a Jamaican for the first time, the 200 metres for only the second time by a Jamaican and both in amazing world record times at that, with the ace sprinter setting the pace for another eye-popping world record run in the relay, he was to the whole wide world, the athlete of the Games, the man of the year.

For me, however, the memory of 2008 was not with six runs to win, so much the sight of the ball, the last ball of the match flying through the air and sailing over the boundary at Queen's Park Oval from Chanderpaul's bat.

And it was not the sight of superman Bolt easing up in the 100 metres and celebrating his victory metres from the line.

For me, and for many reasons, including the surprise of it all, the memory of 2008 was that of Shelly-Ann Fraser sprinting to the line in the women's 100 metres with her arms raised in triumph and her face beaming with a huge and bright smile.

Surprises, upsets, are wonderful. In fact, they are the soul of sport and I don't care what anyone else says. Although it was expected to be tough, as one who argued that Bolt should have ran both the 100 and the 200 metres on the reasoning that he had a chance for greatness, for real greatness and that he should go for it, although it was easier than expected, it was not surprising that he won both.

On top of that, even though hardly anyone expected him to erase the 200 record, including those who shouted for years from the mountain top that Michael Johnson's 19.32 must have been drug-aided, it certainly was not surprising that he won the 100 in word record time.

No surprises

It was also not surprising that Campbell-Brown won the women's 200 or that Walker won the women's 400 hurdles.

What was surprising was that Jamaica finished, not one, two, three but one, two, two in the women's 100 metres and also that Fraser, the one who may not have even faced the starter had the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association not stood their ground, was the one who led Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart home.

Bolt, arguably the greatest sprinter of all time based on his dominance at the Olympic Games, on the ease with which he sprinted to victory in the men's 100 and 200, on the gap between himself and the men coming in second in both events and on the amount of time shaved off the previous world record in both events, was fantastic, Campbell-Brown and Walker were great and I enjoyed their performances.

When I saw Fraser, an underdog, jumping into the lead, however, when I saw her, not only in front of her countrywomen but also ahead of the likes of Lauryn Williams, Muna Lee and Torri Edwards of the USA, when I saw her leaving the field behind and dashing towards the line, I jumped out of my chair. I simply could not believe it.

I can still see her smile - her happiness, her enjoyment, at fulfilling her childhood dream of being the fastest woman in the world. In fact, every time I have seen a picture of her since that glorious day, every time I have heard her speak, she, like me, seems to be still enjoying the moment, probably, even to her, the surprise of it all.