RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, CMC- Sprint super star Usain Bolt yesterday launched his season with a 150-metre win on a track set up at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro.
Bolt fell short of the world-best mark of 14.35 he set on the streets of Manchester in 2009 while cruising to victory in 14.42 seconds.
Another Caribbean athlete, Antigua and Barbuda’s Daniel Bailey was fourth behind Brazilian sprinter Bruno Lins and Ecuador’s Alex Quinones.
“It was my first sprint race, definitely a good start for the season,” Bolt said of the race held under scorching heat on a four-lane track built in the host city of the 2016 Olympics.
“I’m looking forward to coming down here in 2016.”
Huge lines formed as fans tried to get near the track to see the Jamaican star who celebrated by dancing with a few Brazilian dancers after the run, an official event supervised by the IAAF.
Bolt, the first man to successfully defend the 100 and 200 titles at the London Olympics, was in Rio for four days, visiting social projects and participating in promotional events.