Jamaican sprint gold medalist Usain Bolt visited the Olympic centre at Rio de Janeiros most traditional favela, Mangueira, on 16 April, ahead of the Mano a Mano 100m race in the city at the weekend.
Bolt joked, ran and slam-dunked basketballs alongside teenagers participating in sports activitys at the favelas sports complex, which functions as a social project in the low-income community and claims to benefit over 30,000 people a year.
He dressed in the customary bright pink of the community and its famous samba school known by locals as The Green and Pink, and took photos with flocking fans as the samba drums added to the high-energy event.
Bolt kicked off his campaign on 11 April to win sprint honours at Beijings World Championships later this year and said he would be willing to face American rival Justin Gatlin at any time.
Bolt last visited the next Olympic host city in August 2014, and said that the excitement builds each time.
Definitely, I did my last one but Im really looking forward to it. I am really excited now its getting closer. The closer it gets the more excited I get so Im just excited to be here every year, competing, and Im looking forward to next year, Bolt told reporters at Mangueira on 16 April.
For teenagers training in the community centre, the opportunity to meet the athlete often dubbed the fastest man in the world was an inspiring and moving occasion.
Bolt missed most of last season with injuries and his potential showdown with Gaitlin in Beijing is expected to be a highlight of the August 22-30 championships. Gatlin dominated 2014 with world-leading and career-best times of 9.77 and 19.68 seconds over the 100m and 200m respectively.
