By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – St. Louisans concluded Thursday's Olympic torch relay with a celebration on Art Hill in Forest Park.
To fireworks and music from the St. Louis Symphony brass section, three-time gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee lit the torch relay cauldron.
She was the last of 125 torchbearers in a 34-mile run that started early Thursday afternoon and lasted into the evening.
The East St. Louis native said she was honored to take part.
"This is the greatest," Joyner-Kersee said. "This is the ultimate compliment and I am very grateful and very blessed. That's what the Olympic spirit is all about, and being able to light the cauldron here in the St. Louis area. I just love it.
The flame heads next to Atlanta, New York and 20 other cities before returning to Greece on July 9.