Olympic gold medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser (left) with mother Maxine Simpson and high school coach, Michael Carr, leaving the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday evening.

On Monday night when many people gathered to welcome home two more of Jamaica's athletes, it was an emotional embrace between Shelly-Ann Fraser and her grandmother that seemed to be the happiest moment of all.

Fraser, the Olympic 100 metre gold medalist and Markino Buckley, Olympic 400 metre hurdles finalist, were welcomed back to Jamaica in a small and hastily arranged reception at the VIP room of the Norman Manley International Airport.

Several minutes into the press conference hosted by Minister of Sport, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, Phedalia Simpson, Fraser's grandmother walked in and immediately Fraser began to cry, bowing her head while she quietly tried to compose herself.

The tears however could not be contained and Grange immediately invited Simpson to come and share a moment with Fraser. Both embraced for several minutes crying tears of joy. Simpson later told THE STAR that this was the first time she was seeing Fraser since she won the gold medal and seeing her brought back all the emotions she felt when she won. "Everything came back to me, knowing that she reach thus far," she said.

Earlier, residents of Waterhouse crowded the airport to welcome home their star. Many arrived from early afternoon on buses that carried people from the community. "Today when I come home from school, I heard she was coming so I decided to come on one of the buses and come and show my support," Yanique Jarrett, a high school student said.

Although she had homework to do, that did not stop her, but she promised to do it as soon as went home.

As soon as Fraser and Buckley exited the airport, there a mad dash to touch them as many eager people ran with the vehicle until it turned on to the straightway leading out of the airport.

Residents of Waterhouse in St Andrew, eagerly anticipate the arrival of Shelly-Ann Fraser outside the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday. - Colin Hamilton photos

Shelly-Ann Fraser speaks during a reception held to welcome her and Markino Buckley back to island yesterday at the VIP room of the Norman Manley International Airport.