JAMAICA'S double Olympic sprint medallist, Kerron Stewart, feels hurt when the credibility of Jamaican athletes - due to their outstanding performances - is questioned by others around the world.

In a moving speech which brought tears to her eyes, Stewart said she knows what it takes to work hard and Jamaica's athletes are reaping the rewards for their efforts.

Pointing to where her hard work begun, Stewart reminisced: "As a child walking four miles to grandmother's farm ... I know hard work.

"I understand hard work, so when they question our credibility as great athletes that hurts me because I know where I am coming from. I know where all of us are coming from," added Stewart, who repeated her 100m silver medal performance from last year's Beijing Olympics (where she also won bronze in the 200m).

Jamaicans dominate the sprints

Jamaican athletes have dominated the sprints at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China, last year and the World Championships in Berlin, Germany, last month.

Jamaica's men and women swept all the individual 100 and 200 metres finals, the men's 4x100m relay at the Olympics, as well as the men's 100 and 200m, plus women's 200m finals, plus both sprint relays, at the World Champs.

Stewart, who ran 10.75, equalling her personal best, for silver in the World Championships 100m, said it's up to her fellow Jamaicans to rise above the challenge.

"We are great people," she said. "I am so proud to be a Jamaican," she said with her eyes full of tears.

She added: "Not because of what we are doing on the track, but because of the way and the level Jamaica is going on," she said to a thunderous round of applause.

Stewart, who opened her speech by saying, "I am just so happy to be home," made the comments at a welcome reception at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday.

Meanwhile, Stewart said she was happy with the silver medal won in Berlin.

"I did not get the gold but to me I did not lose that race. Shelly (Shelly-Ann Fraser) ran a very good race," she said.

"If you are going to lose, that's the person who you want to lose to, she is from the same country."

Fraser won the event in 10.73 seconds.

Continuing, Stewart said: "The relay (4x100m gold medal) made up for everything if there was any disappointment."

Looking ahead, Stewart said: "The aim is always to work harder. There is always room for improvements. There is so much more for me to do on and off the track, so it's just more hard work."