A day after Usain Bolt produced the most extraordinary performance of the Games when he shattered the world record to win the 100 metres in 9.69sec despite slowing to celebrate 20 metres from the line, Jamaica's female sprinters produced a cleansweep in the women's event.

 

Shelly-Ann Fraser, like Bolt only 21, won the race, pumping her fist as she was clocked in 10.78.

 

Team-mates Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart finished in a dead heat for the silver, 0.20 back - the same margin as Bolt had won by in the Bird's Nest.

 

It was the widest margin of victory in an Olympic women's 100 final since 1988, when Florence Griffith-Joyner triumphed in Seoul.

 

Fraser said: "When I was thinking about it, I was getting ahead of myself.

 

"I was like, 'Calm down.

 

"'First you need to go out there and do it.'"

 

Reggae music played in the background as the three Jamaicans enjoyed a lap-of-honour.

 

One shop owner in KIngston said after Bolt's victory which took place at 9.30am local time, that it was the biggest party in the capital Kingston on a Saturday morning that anyone could remember as traffic was brought to a halt by people dancing in the streets, ignoring advice from the Government that a major storm was set to sweep the Island.

 

Prime Minister Bruce Goulding watched the races in Jamaica House and has promised the medallists a spectacular welcome when they return home from China.

 

He said: "It is a great symbol to Jamaica.

 

"It is a symbol of the quality of greatness of which we as Jamaicans are capable.

 

"The Games are not yet over, and we expect a lot more from the team in the days ahead, but I can assure you that we are planning a massive welcome-home party for all of you",