Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Bolt makes quick trip to NZ

Updated at 9:59 pm on 8 October 2012

Usain Bolt, the fastest man on Earth, flew into New Zealand on Monday for a whirlwind promotional trip.

The Jamaican sprinter became the first man to successfully defend the 100m and 200m titles at the London Olympics earlier this year after winning gold in Beijing in 2008. He also took gold at the 4x100m relay in London.

Bolt was in Auckland for less than 24 hours and welcomed with a traditional Maori powhiri. He says he was particularly impressed by the haka that he said sent shivers down his spine.

"It was different. It was good because it gave me chills - the energy that they had was wonderful. I would like to do something like that."

Bolt then headed to the New Zealand Breakers headquarters in Mairangi Bay to meet the players and lace up his basketball boots. Twenty lucky fans were allowed into the restricted session.

The athlete then put some of New Zealand's best young sprinters through their paces at the Millennium Institute on the North Shore.

The 26-year-old says he plans to defend his gold medals at the Rio Olympics in 2016, but won't be attempting the long jump.

Neither will he be playing cricket in Australia's Big Bash this summer, but says he hasn't ruled it out next year.

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