Yesterday The Gleaner recognised a magnificent athlete for her resilience at the international level, an organisation that has been critical to the growth of Jamaica's transport and tourism sectors, as well as a commission which has helped maintain interest in Jamaican culture. Hear what they had to say on receiving their awards.

Perseverance and Brigitte Foster-Hylton are pretty much synonymous in the eyes of the Jamaican public, after her 100m hurdles gold success in Berlin in August.

However, anyone can place a bet that most Jamaicans were not aware that one summer earlier, when competing in the Beijing Olympics in China, Foster-Hylton contracted pneumonia due to the high smog levels for which that nation is notoriously known.

"What most people didn't know is that I developed pneumonia last year at the Beijing Olympics," she told The Gleaner yesterday at a special luncheon. "I had a bronchial infection from the smog in China."

Despite this, Foster-Hylton went on to make the finals of the event and missed out on a medal in the 100m hurdles by 2/100ths of a second.

Feel-good story

Can anyone see a feel-good story in the making? Fast-forward to a year later and by now all Jamaicans should know the story of her victory at the World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, Germany, where she snatched victory in the finals of her event in a time of a then season-best 12.51 seconds.

This steel of resolve has been acknowledged by The Gleaner with her receiving the Gleaner Honour Award for excellence in the field of sports.

"I feel special, I feel privileged. It's always nice to be recognised and I appreciate the gesture and for considering me worthy," Foster-Hylton said.

"I want to thank The Gleaner and thank all Jamaicans for their support and all those who have helped me prepare for my success," she added with a disarming smile.

Forced to read

Growing up in St Elizabeth, Foster-Hylton recalls days of reading The Gleaner, because "it was the easiest thing to get in the country and it was the biggest newspaper company", and because she "was forced to read it".

Now the top-rated woman in the 100m hurdles, Foster-Hylton was also recognised for the sizzling form she has displayed since her unforgettable world stage victory with win after win in the European Grand Prix. That 100m sprint hurdles victory was, however, the crowning moment of an outstanding career for the Jamaican national record holder who became the first Jamaican - man or woman - to win a sprint hurdle gold at a major world meet.