LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter

Melaine Walker waves to her fans as she leaves the Norman Manley International Airport in a BMW convertible. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

A year ago, Melaine Walker was in a very different position than she finds herself in today. There was the failure of getting to the final of the World Championships and, worst of all, she could not win a race on the international circuit and ended the season winless.

A year later, Walker is an Olympic champion and record holder and, to top it all off, she is unbeaten over 15 races.

Preparation

"Whenever people ask me what my secret is to being unbeaten this season, I just remind them I did not win a race last year. That's my response," said Walker after returning to Jamaica on Thursday night at the Norman Manley International Airport where her parents waited anxiously to greet her.

"I've been through a hard year of work and my coach always tries to prepare us and tells us we have to be confident in what we do and at the Beijing Olympics, I was just that."

Walker won Jamaica's second Olympic 400m hurdles gold medal in Beijing, joining Deon Hemmings as the conquerors of the obstacle event. Both women also won with an Olympic record. Hemmings did it in 52.82 seconds and Walker 52.62, which is also a national record.

Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association (JAAA) president, Howard Aris, said he was happy for Melaine and her family after watching her achieve international success as a junior and now a senior. Walker was a silver medallist behind American Lashinda Demus at the 2002 World Junior Championships in Kingston.

Proud mother

"I've watched Melaine from she was a junior and watched her parents, Jenefer Wilson and Japheth Walker, support her through it all and I would just like to congratulate them," said Aris.

While glowing in the moment of the return of her daughter as an Olympic champion, Wilson recalled a conversation with MVP track cub president, Bruce James, last year.

"The last (World Championships) was coming up and no one was talking about Melaine and Bruce James came to me and said 'At the Olympics, fire will be coming from her feet' and she did just that. So, I'm very proud to be here," said Wilson. "I am a proud mom."

Not so competitive

The 400m hurdles field in Beijing was not as competitive as expected at the start of the year as three top hurdlers were out. Double world champion Jana Rawlinson of Australia missed the Games because of a toe injury, world record holder Yuliya Pechonkina of Russia is suffering from a heart problem and the former world number one, Demus, failed to qualify at her Olympic Trials.

Walker said she would have relished beating them.

"I would have preferred to have them in the race. If they were here I would have been more motivated," she said.

No matter the circumstances, Walker has an Olympic gold medal to prove her worth.

Oh, what a difference a year makes.

"I have one thing to say - the job is over now," said Walker.