Bolt from the blue blood . . . Harry takes on world's fastest man
He has taken on the Taliban, trekked across the Arctic and qualified as a combat helicopter pilot to earn his reputation as the British royal family's action man.
But British royal Prince Harry will take on a challenge he can only lose when he runs against the fastest man in history on a visit to Jamaica next month.
The 27-year-old prince will meet 100m world record holder Usain Bolt when he stops off at the Olympic champion's training track in Kingston during his first solo foreign tour.
Royal sources have said that Harry is hoping to challenge Mr Bolt to a "fun" race.
"The prince and Usain Bolt are keen for it to happen," said a royal insider. "Because the visit is at a critical time in the run-up to the London 2012 Games, the whole thing will depend on Usain Bolt's training schedule."
Mr Bolt (25) broke the 100m world record in 2009 by the biggest margin since digital timing was introduced.
His winning time of 9.58 seconds is considered by some experts to be at the limits of what is humanly possible. He also holds the world records in the 200m and, with his teammates, in the 4x100m relay.
Despite his achievements, Mr Bolt still trains at a rudimentary athletics track which will be on Harry's itinerary when he visits Jamaica at the beginning of March as the royal family begins diamond jubilee tours of every Commonwealth country.
The prince is also expected to meet Jamaica's Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who said that she intended to remove the queen as head of state to turn the country into a republic. (© Daily Telegraph, London)
- Gordon Rayner in London
Irish Independent
