True to style, Usain Bolt disregarded protocol and played to the crowd during an unprecedented challenge at Copacabana beach on Sunday (31 March). The charismatic Jamaican won a 150m race in 14.42 seconds – 0.07 seconds short of his world record – and entranced fans with his irreverent ways.

After the race he danced to Brazilian 'funk' music with two local female athletes who had competed in the women’s version of the Mano a Mano challenge and promised that he will come back to Rio whenever invited.

“That was my first sprint race of the year, definitely a good start to the season,” said the fastest man on the planet. “It was a good time on a very hot day.”

Bolt, who towers above many of his rivals at 1.95m tall, is the owner of six Olympic gold medals and a world record holder in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay.

And he is yet another visitor to fall in love with the Marvellous City. “It’s a beautiful place, with beautiful people,” he said. “I’d like to come back here on holiday, once the season is over. In 2016, I hope to meet everyone here again.”

The Mano a Mano challenge started with a Paralympic competition. Brazilian Alan Fonteles Oliveira, one of the stars of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, beat American Jerome Singleton in 15.68 seconds.

Afterwards, he thanked the crowd for their support. “I’m training to become unbeatable in the 200m. My start wasn’t very strong but I managed to reach high speed,” said the London 2012 champion in the 200m. 

Alan Fonteles Oliveira finishes ahead of Jerome Singleton at Copacabana beach (Photo: Thiago Diz/Mano a Mano)

The women’s competition featured four of the best Brazilian sprinters, three of who won gold in the Guadalajara 2011 Pan American Games 4x100m relay. Franciela Krasucki won the race in 16.75 seconds, leaving Rosângela Santos, Vanda Gomes and Evelyn dos Santos behind.

“It was great to compete close to the public, to feel the human warmth,” Franciela said. “It was a different competition because we are not used to running 150m in a straight line.”

Franciela was all compliments about Bolt: “He's an outgoing, playful and very down-to-earth guy.”

For the main event, Bolt put on a show at Copacabana beach, which will host the beach volleyball, triathlon and marathon swimming competitions at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Signs and banners greeted the world’s fastest man. The public chanted: “Bolt is a great guy, he even looks Brazilian. At Copacabana beach, he will fly, he will fly!”

And he really flew, leaving Daniel Bailey, from Antigua, second in 14.88seconds, and Brazilian Bruno Lins third in 14.91 seconds. Alex Quiñónez, from Ecuador, finished fourth.

Bolt threw his running shoes into the crowd, posed for pictures, waved flags and generally enjoyed every moment of the adulation. The party continued on the track with Bolt and Bailey dancing Brazilian style with Rosângela and Evelyn. During the medal ceremony, the Jamaican returned to the track and improvised a lap of honour, to the public’s delight.