The main man has landed: Usain Bolt touches down in Rio ahead of Olympic Games
Jamaican sprint superstar arrives on flight from London to start plotting his bid for an unprecedented 'triple-triple' at Rio 2016
Bolt acknowledged fans and the media, but did not stop to speak (Photo: Rio 2016/Gabriel Nascimento)
Usain Bolt touched down in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday (27 July) night ahead of the Olympic Games in which he is expected to be the star attraction.
The Jamaican sprinter, world record holder in the 100m and 200m, arrived at Rio International Airport at 9.02pm local time, after a transatlantic flight from London, where he competed in the Anniversary Games last week.
Bolt was greeted by a scrum of media, excited airport staff and members of the public. He briefly posed for photos but said nothing before being whisked off in a private car.
‘I know the sport needs me to win and come out on top,’ says Usain Bolt
The 29-year-old is aiming to defend the 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles he won at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games, in what would be an unprecedented 'triple-triple’.
Bolt gave the world a scare earlier this month when he pulled out of the Jamaican Olympic trials with a hamstring injury. But he proved his fitness by cruising to victory in the 200m in London last Friday (22 July) and is now set to renew his rivalry with US sprinter Justin Gatlin in Brazil.
