As if anyone needed persuading to watch Usain Bolt compete at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the Jamaican sprint king has given the public even more reason to get excited. Asked about his aims for next year’s Games, Bolt confirmed, in an exclusive interview with rio2016.com, that his sights are set on an unprecedented ‘triple-triple’ – with a new world record in the 200m his main aim.

“The 200m (world record) is definitely on the ‘to-do list’ for me, so I’m really focused on getting that done,” said Bolt, who holds the world records for the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. “It’s the Olympics, it’s the biggest stage, so the opposition will be tough and it will be extremely exciting, and the possibility of a world record is always there.”  

Rio will be Bolt’s last Olympic Games – he will turn 30 on the day of the closing ceremony – and the six-time Olympic champion has confirmed he will retire in 2017 after the world championships, at which he will only run in the 100m. If Bolt successfully defends the 100m, 200m and 4x100m titles he won at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Games, his legacy will be an extraordinary ‘triple-triple’.

“That’s one of the reasons I’m so excited,” he said. “It’s going to be a big goal for me, so I need to use this season to make sure I’m on track to get here next year… the season is going well so far so I am happy and excited.

“I’ve got a lot of races to get into the shape that I want to be in. I have started the season OK, I have felt OK, I just need to be running races to get that sharpness. I am going to take my time and work my way up.”

Bolt is in Rio for the third edition of the Mano a Mano Challenge, the climax of which will see him competing in exhibition 100m race at the Brazilian Jockey Club in Rio on Sunday (19 April). On Thursday, he visited a community sports centre in the working class neighbourhood of Mangueira, which is famed for its lead role in the city’s samba and carnival scene.

The Jamaican superstar was a massive hit with local school children, shooting hoops on the basketball court (showing off highly impressive skills), playing tambourine in an impromptu samba session and racing some of the kids on the running track (see the photo gallery below). He took time out to share his vision of the Rio 2016 Games, urging Brazilians to infuse the event with their culture.

“I’m getting excited because it’s next year and I know it’s going to be different,” he said. “A lot of people are going to be here, a lot of different cultures mixed together, so you should go out and support different sports and just really enjoy the festivities, because I know it’s going to be wonderful. You should show the world the culture of Brazil and what kind of people you are, the fun guys I’ve seen when I’ve been out here.

“I’ve always been greatly received by the people here, they’ve always been very nice to me. So I know that come the Games, when everybody is here, the energy will be high and it will be outstanding.”

Bolt, who has already said he hopes to see Neymar playing in Rio, also revealed which other sports he would like to see during the 2016 Games. “Definitely the swimming, I always watch swimming at the Olympics,” he said. “Football too definitely, and basketball – I like watching basketball games and it’s interesting to see different countries playing each other.”