To say that the crowd went wild would be an understatement.
Although viewing the excitement through a friend’s camera lens, I was no less excited for our little island home when Kirani James crouched at the 400 Meter Olympic Starting Block.
You could cut the excitement with a knife, it was so thick when this Grenadian runner started his gold medal race. The whole island seemed to be out cheering him on. Streets were packed as locals watched on the corner digital billboard. When he crossed the finish line first, the whole country erupted.
“This is for my home country,” he said in the post-race interview. There is no doubt that his home country is backing him. Streets have been named after James. A national holiday was settled on and a billboard front and center outside the airport proudly declares a welcome to “Kirani country.”
Even his parents stayed behind to watch his competition with their fellow Grenadians. Five companies offered to pay their way, but these parents decided to cheer him on along with everyone else from their hometown of Gouyave.
As he sprinted to the finish, I will never forget how unified that country felt as they all cheered him on. Way to go Kirani James. Your victory is what the Olympics are all about.
Somewhere in this video, his parents are watching their little boy win gold. Not just for them, but for their country.
While this video wouldn’t embed (thanks a lot NBC), it tells a little more about Kirani’s story.
Some additional information that should not be missed is included in this NY Times article on James. In order to maintain his Visa in America while he trains, James has taken a full course load. Other Olympians take a half load or ignore academics all together. Not James. Coming from a place where I was told I would be shot if I walked alone at night, this man is dedicated to working toward his business degree … while winning Gold.
