Virgin Media has partnered with Usain Bolt to surprise his megafan with a one-to-one gaming experience with the world’s fastest man appearing as a super realistic 4k hologram, giving the illusion of being in the very same room.

In a ‘living room of the future’, kitted out with the latest smart tech from a laser TV to remote-controlled pop-out drawers, Bolt surprised a young up-and-coming British sprinter in what can only be described as a scene from a sci-fi movie.

As part of the big reveal, Bolt, stationed in a top-secret location, was beamed into a 4K hologram device to the surprise of his superfan, Alex Jianroran.

Not only did 16-year-old Alex, from London, get to meet and chat with the world’s fastest man as if he was in the same room, he also got to play some video games with Bolt. After a few heated gaming battles, Alex was invited by Bolt to join him in performing his iconic celebration: the Bolt.

Gaming through the hologram brings to life how the future of online gaming with friends could be different and even more connected and meaningful. Currently, gamers rely on headsets as their only means of communication but this hologram technology – powered by hyperfast broadband – could allow for improved teamwork and help gamers take their gameplay to the next level.

It comes as new research shows that more than half (60%) of Brits cite gaming as their new favourite way of communicating with 40% preferring to game against friends via hologram than in person.

The Jamaican sprinter, who knows a thing about the importance of speed having won eight Olympic Gold medals and holds the world record for the fastest 100m and 200m, teamed up with Virgin Media O2 to celebrate the company rolling out gigabit speeds to its entire network of 15.5 million homes across the UK.

Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man and eight-times Olympic Gold Medallist, said:

“When it comes to speed, I know how important it is to be on top form and Virgin Media’s hyperfast gigabit broadband is almost – almost – as fast as me. I had a great time virtually meeting and gaming with my megafan, Alex, and It’s exciting to see how gigabit broadband makes futuristic tech like holograms possible.”

Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “This incredible hologram technology, brought to life by the world’s fastest man Usain Bolt, shows just how far we have come in how we can engage, communicate and socialise in a virtual world. Our gigabit broadband speeds can power the British homes of today and the future which will continue to consume more cutting-edge technology over the coming years as we find new and innovative ways to stay connected to the people that mean the most.”

Southampton FC players James Ward-Prowse and Jack Stephens also took to hologram form as part of this milestone to meet a life-long Saints fan and joined them in an online football gaming contest.