What happens when the world’s fastest man lines up against a British royal? Can a prince outsprint Usain Bolt, even for just 20 meters? And what does it take to beat the man who would soon go on to win three Olympic gold medals in London 2012? As strange as it sounds, it all happened back in March 2012, during Prince Harry’s 10-day Caribbean tour as the Queen’s envoy for her Diamond Jubilee. On a sunny afternoon in Kingston, Jamaica, the then-27-year-old royal shared the track with Bolt, the reigning world record holder in the 100 meters.

And then? Harry jumped the gun, literally, and sprinted ahead before Bolt even moved. The prince “won” the race, Bolt laughed, and the world watched in disbelief. Here’s how this unforgettable royal moment unfolded! The scene couldn’t have been more surreal: the world’s fastest man and Britain’s cheekiest royal standing shoulder-to-shoulder at the University of the West Indies track in Kingston.

The Caribbean heat shimmered, cameras were trained, and all eyes were fixed on Prince Harry and Usain Bolt. And then, in a flash, Harry darted off before the sprint even began! It was a false start, of course. Bolt, still crouched in his blocks, burst into laughter as the prince powered down the 20-meter stretch, arms pumping and heart racing.

The crowd was delighted. The photographers captured every second. Yes, Prince Harry technically beat Usain Bolt! “He cheated,” Bolt joked to the BBC. “I said we would have a rematch in London 2012 and Harry said, ‘I’m busy.’” But Bolt was charmed: “He’s cool, very down to earth. When you meet dignitaries, you think it will be difficult, but he just wanted to laugh.”

The two then struck Bolt’s signature “to the world” pose together, the stuff memes are made of! The Olympic legend even gifted Harry a green, yellow, and black Jamaican T-shirt that said, “Harry can Bolt.” But that wasn’t the prince’s only light-hearted moment. Earlier in Belize, he danced with locals. In the Bahamas, he posed with Miss Bahamas contestants at a youth leadership event.

And in between, he stayed committed to royal duty, visiting hospitals and charities and meeting with dignitaries. In Jamaica alone, he was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, attend a state dinner, and later rappel with soldiers. It was Prince Harry’s first official royal tour. And who knew? Along with diplomacy and duty, there’d be a cheeky dash of mischief… and a race that left even Usain Bolt chasing!

Relieving Usain Bolt’s London 2012 record-breaking performances

Let’s be honest, Prince Harry may have cheekily “beaten” Usain Bolt over 20 meters during a royal visit to Jamaica, but when London 2012 rolled around just months later, there was no catching the real king of speed! After all, Bolt wasn’t in Kingston to speak; he was only warming up.  Come August, under the blazing lights of Olympic Stadium, the Jamaican superstar delivered one of his all-time Olympic performances.

First came the 100-meter final. The pressure was sky-high. Teammate Yohan Blake was nipping at his heels, and the field had a blistering start. But Bolt? He shifted gears at 40 meters, surged ahead, and stopped the clock at 9.63 seconds, an Olympic record! Blake grabbed silver with 9.75. But Bolt wasn’t done.

In the 200 meters, he exploded off the curve, led from start to finish, and crossed the line in 19.32 seconds, matching Michael Johnson’s iconic 1996 mark. Blake followed for another silver, and Warren Weir made it a Jamaican 1-2-3. Then came the exclamation mark, the 4×100 meters relay. Bolt, anchoring a dream team with Carter, Frater, and Blake, received a clean baton and blazed down the stretch. They smashed the world record in 36.84 seconds!