What were the odds of coming across a man who was a torchbearer for the 2016 Rio Olympics on a morning hike to the top of the Morro do Leme, the site of Forte Duque de Caxias, at the east end of Copacabana Beach?
Having a chance meeting with one of the 12,000 runners who carried the iconic torch for a distance of about 200 meters each, whose company included World Cup-winning Brazilian soccer player Cafu and other celebrities, through 329 towns and cities during the 95-day relay across Brazil was almost like plucking a needle from a haystack.
After all, I had set out to simply speak with tourists and "Cariocas," as natives of Rio de Janeiro are known, and get their perspectives on the 17-day sporting extravaganza taking place in the city, discover a bit of history and soak up the vibrant atmosphere from the sea of humanity strolling along the 4-kilometer Avenida Atlantica promenade.