“The testers can form a queue outside my house if they want to, because the more often they test me and other athletes to show that we are clean, the better it is for the sport,” Bolt wrote in his autobiography.

Former world-record holder Asafa Powell started the stay-in-Jamaica movement when he joined coach Stephen Francis’ MVP (Maximum Velocity Possible) club. Fraser-Pryce had U.S. college scholarship offers, but she decided to join MVP, too.

“It was a tough decision, but I wanted to be near my mother and my brothers, and I knew, even with a scholarship, it would be difficult to pay for expenses,” she said.

Johnson, Donovan Bailey and Linford Christie are among those who left. Even Ottey competed for Slovenia in her later years. But with a $2 million investment in facilities the past three years, the Jamaican government is showing its commitment to home-grown athletes who prefer home-grown coaches and home cooking. More than 100 Jamaican track athletes still leave each year to attend U.S. schools, but many in the top tier are staying and finding that Bolt has opened doors to more sponsorship money.

‘It’s in our blood’

“Jamaicans have more options today,” said Sanya Richards-Ross, a native who first starred at Vaz Prep, moved to Pembroke Pines when she was 11, became a U.S. citizen, earned a scholarship to Texas and will compete in her third Olympics as the top-ranked 400 runner. “They used to have to come to the U.S. to survive in the sport. Now they’ve got resources on the island. I would never change my circumstances, but I think it’s great that young Jamaicans have a chance to stay with phenomenal coaches and uplift their families.”

Shawn Anderson dreamed of becoming a star after finishing second in the 100 at Champs when he was 15. He knew that college recruiters, sports apparel reps, agents and rabid alumni were in the stands. But he hurt his knee playing soccer. Now he’s a security guard in Bolt’s neighborhood.

“We love tracks, and when you do something for the love of it, you do it well,” he said. “It’s in our blood. It’s part of our culture.”

Said Lisa Aries of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association: “If every last person in Jamaica could go to London for the Olympics, the island would be empty.”

After the meet, fans posed for photos on the medal podium. Kids raced in the blue lanes wearing flip flops, trainers or no shoes at all.

“I like Usain Bolt best,” 12-year-old Jordan Hoilett said. “He eats lots of yams, and he run fast.”

Said his friend Nicholas Henry, 11: “Bolt show off too much.”

“No,” Hoilett replied, defending Bolt. “Because him working so hard, when he win he got to celebrate.”