When Prince Harry Raced Usain Bolt—And Won

At a charity event in Kingston, Jamaica, in 2012, Prince Harry challenged the legendary sprinter Usain Bolt to a race—and won!

The playful interaction took place during the Diamond Jubilee tour celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 years on the throne.

The setting was the University of the West Indies, where Prince Harry was passing on the monarch’s best wishes to Jamaican athletes ahead of the London Olympics.

In a moment of spontaneity, he initiated the race with a false start, then distracted Bolt and took off to the finish line.

The runner was in on the joke and laughed along with the crowd. He also said that he enjoyed the Duke of Sussex’ laidback style.

The race, though unopposed and clearly not competitive, became a huge moment on social media. Bolt, who would go on to have a record-breaking run at the 2012 Olympics—where he won gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay—had allowed Harry to "win”.

It was a characteristic display of humility and humour on part of the runner. As for Harry, though he did not break royal protocol in racing Bolt, it established his public persona of accessibility and ability to connect with people on a personal level.

The same was also true for his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, who, in 1991, partook in a Mother's Day race at the school he and Prince William attended.

The apparent similarity was not lost on social media. Commenting on Harry’s clip, an X user said: “I’ve always loved Harry, he’s literally a reflection of Dianna and that’s why the royal family doesn’t like him.”

A second said this was “why Harry has the hearts of people in a way William never will.”

The Duke and Duchess Meghan officially stepped down as senior members of the Royal Family in 2020, retaining their titles but with the agreement that they would not use their “His/Her Royal Highness” styles publicly or commercially.