Usain Bolt makes Olympic Stadium his own: Brazilians fans can't get enough of Jamaican superstar
There's no question as to who the Brazilian crowds will be supporting at the 100m final on Sunday (14 August)
Bolt lapped up the adulation of the crowd in the Olympic Stadium after winning his 100m heat on Saturday (Photo: Getty Images/Cameron Spencer)
It won't be until late on the night of Sunday (14 August) that Usain Bolt runs in his first sprint final of Rio 2016.
But the Jamaican superstar has already conquered the hearts of the Brazilian public.
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Many fans in the Olympic Stadium on Saturday came with one purpose only: to see Bolt run his first race of this year's Olympic Games, a 100m heat.
"I don't know what else is happening today, all I know is that Bolt is running and that is why we came," said local resident Gabriela Jesus, while her young son Paulo imitated the Jamaican's famous Lightning Bolt pose in a packed train en route to the stadium.
Bolt's charisma exercises a strong pull in Brazil. At the Olympic Stadium on Saturday, thousands of people cheered as the Jamaican set out on his quest for an unprecedented 'triple triple' of Olympic sprint triumphs: the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay.
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Many fans were equipped with binoculars for a closer view of their idol. "I want to see him close up," said local resident Rodolfo Lopes, who came to the stadium with wife Gabriela and children Marina and Caio. "He's so fast I am afraid of going to the bathroom and missing him.
"Athletics is the essence of the Games and I wanted my children to have this experience, especially with Bolt on the track."
When Bolt asked for quiet from the crowd on Saturday, Brazilians were quick to respond (Photo: Getty Images/Paul Gilham)
Bolt visibly feeds off the support of the crowd and in Rio on Saturday he was clearly in his element, firing up the spectators and then asking for quiet when he needed to concentrate and move to his marks.
Ever the showman, on Sunday night Bolt is likely to whip the crowd into a frenzy in the run-up to his final confrontation with his great rival, the US sprinter Justin Gatlin.
Usain Bolt to fans: come and watch me make history at Rio 2016
On Saturday, Gatlin qualified in first place, winning his heat with a time of 10.01 seconds, while Bolt posted the fourth fastest time of 10.07. Bolt was injured shortly before Rio 2016 and Sunday's final is expected to be very tight.
Should the Jamaican prevail, expect the loudest cheers of Rio 2016 so far and a Brazilian-Jamaican party lasting long into the night.
Bolt cruised to victory in his heat on Saturday and is all set for Sunday's showdown (Photo: Getty Images/Paul Gilham)
Athletics schedule and results from Rio 2016
