Usain Bolt fever grips Rio Olympics as Christoph Harting keeps discus gold in the family

Usain Bolt took the first “sluggish” steps towards his hoped-for Olympic triple-triple on Saturday when he eased through his 100 metres heat as the fans turned out in force to see the sport’s superstar bring the athletics programme to life.

After Friday’s feeble turnout on a grey, wet morning, there were enough in the 60,000-capacity stadium to attempt a somewhat ragged Mexican wave in the Saturday sunshine, although there was no shortage of excitement to keep them occupied.

WATCH: golden moments on Day 7 at the Rio Olympics

Much of it came from the unlikely source of the men’s discus, where German Christoph Harting snatched victory with his last throw, four years after his brother Robert took the title in London.

Bolt was the headline act, however, even if his progress was a foregone conclusion.

Big-screen glimpses of him on the warm-up track brought roars of appreciation from the crowd and when the Jamaican entered the arena and clapped the fans they responded with a throaty roar of appreciation.

WATCH: relive the action involving Hong Kong athletes on Day 7 at the Rio Olympics