Bolt wins 150m beach race

Rio de Janeiro - Usain Bolt started his season by winning a 150m race on a track set up at Copacabana beach here on Sunday.

Bolt cruised to victory in 14.42 seconds, falling short of the world-best mark of 14.35 he set on the streets of Manchester in 2009. Brazilian sprinter Bruno Lins was second in 14.91, ahead of Ecuador's Alex Quinones and Antigua and Barbuda's Daniel Bailey.

After the race held under scorching heat on a four-lane track built on Copacabana beach in the city set to host the 2016 Olympics, Bolt said he was satisfied with his performance.

"It was my first sprint race, definitely a good start for the season," Bolt said. "I'm looking forward to coming down here in 2016."

Bolt celebrated by dancing with a few Brazilian dancers after the run, which was an official event supervised by the IAAF.

There were huge lines as fans tried to get near the track to see the Jamaican star from up close.

Bolt, the first man to successfully defend the 100 and 200 titles at the London Olympics, was in Rio for four days, visiting social projects and participating in promotional events.

Earlier Sunday, double-amputee Alan Oliveira of Brazil beat American runner Jerome Singleton at the Copacabana track. Oliveira had been initially expected to race against Oscar Pistorius, who withdrew after being charged with the shooting death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Oliveira beat the South African in the 200m at the London Paralympics.