Speed has always fascinated the world, and in athletics, few events showcase raw speed, like the 100-meter sprint.
Over the years, athletes have continued to break barriers, with several sprinters running under 10 seconds, a feat once thought impossible.
Currently, Christian Coleman and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce are the reigning world champions, while Usain Bolt and Elaine Thompson Herah hold the Olympic titles in the 100m sprint.
The fastest recorded human speed is 27.5 mph, achieved by Usain Bolt in 2009 during the Berlin World Championships. That record-breaking run, completed in 9.58 seconds, still stands as the fastest 100m sprint in history.
Let’s take a look at the fastest runners in the world, their personal records, and what makes them exceptional.
Key Takeaways
- Usain Bolt remains the fastest sprinter in history, holding the 100m world record at 9.58 seconds.
- Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is the fastest active female sprinter, with a record of 10.63 seconds.
- Athletes like Christian Coleman and Trayvon Bromell continue to push sprinting limits, running under 9.80 seconds.
The Fastest Male Runners of All Time
Only a few men in history have ever reached the highest level of speed in sprinting.
These athletes have trained hard, broken records, and proven themselves as the fastest men on Earth.
Let’s take a look at the men who have run the 100 meters faster than anyone else.
Usain Bolt (Jamaica) – 9.58s (2009)
Usain Bolt is the fastest person in history. Born on August 21, 1986, in Sherwood Content, Jamaica, he became famous for his height, long stride, and ability to accelerate past opponents.
At 6 feet 5 inches (195 cm), Bolt had a natural advantage. His long legs meant he needed fewer steps to cover 100 meters.
While most sprinters took 44 steps, Bolt only needed 41. His combination of speed, power, and technique made him nearly unbeatable.
Bolt set his 100m world record of 9.58 seconds at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, reaching a top speed of 27.5 mph (44.72 km/h).
He also holds the 200m world record (19.19 seconds) and was part of the 4x100m relay world record team (36.84 seconds in 2012).
During his career, he won eight Olympic gold medals and 11 World Championship titles.
His dominance in the 100m and 200m made him one of the greatest athletes in history.
He retired in 2017, and no one has come close to breaking his records.
Yohan Blake (Jamaica) & Tyson Gay (USA) – 9.69s
Yohan Blake and Tyson Gay are tied as the second-fastest sprinters ever, both running 9.69 seconds.
Yohan Blake, born December 26, 1989, trained alongside Usain Bolt under coach Glen Mills. He earned the nickname “The Beast” because of his intense training.
At 21 years old, he became the youngest world champion in 100m history by winning the 2011 World Championships.
Blake ran 9.69 seconds in 2012, just after the London Olympics, where he won silver medals in the 100m and 200m.
His 200m personal best (19.26 seconds) is the second-fastest time ever, behind only Bolt.
Tyson Gay, born August 9, 1982, in Kentucky, is the fastest American sprinter. In 2007, he won three gold medals at the World Championships in Osaka (100m, 200m, 4x100m relay).
His 9.69-second sprint in 2009 made him one of the few men to run under 9.70 seconds.
However, Gay’s career was affected by a doping ban in 2013, which led to the loss of his 4x100m relay Olympic silver medal from the 2012 London Games.
Despite this, his 100m American record still stands.
Asafa Powell (Jamaica) – 9.72s
Jamaica’s Asafa Powell was the world’s dominant sprinter before the rise of Bolt.
Born on November 23, 1982, Powell held the 100m world record twice—first in 2005 (9.77 seconds) and again in 2007 (9.74 seconds).
Powell is famous for his consistency, having broken the 10-second barrier an astonishing 97 times, more than any other sprinter in history.
His ability to perform at an elite level for over a decade set him apart.
He won gold in the 4x100m relay at the 2016 Rio Olympics but struggled to capture individual gold at major events.
Justin Gatlin (USA) – 9.74s
Justin Gatlin has had one of the longest and most controversial careers in sprinting history.
Born on February 10, 1982, in Brooklyn, New York, he burst onto the scene by winning the 100m Olympic gold in 2004 (9.85 seconds) and then the 2005 World Championships (9.88 seconds).
Gatlin’s career was derailed in 2006 when he received a four-year doping ban.
After his return in 2010, he regained his form, recording 9.77 seconds in 2014 and 9.74 seconds in 2015 at the Qatar Grand Prix.
Even in his mid-to-late 30s, Gatlin remained a top competitor. In 2017, he won World Championship gold, defeating Usain Bolt in his final race.
He retired in 2021 as the fifth-fastest man in history.
Christian Coleman (USA) – 9.76s
Born on March 6, 1996, in Atlanta, Georgia, Christian Coleman is one of the fastest sprinters today.
Known for his explosive start, he holds the 60m world record of 6.34 seconds and became the 2019 World Champion in the 100m, clocking 9.76 seconds.
It wasn’t all success, though; Coleman missed the 2021 Tokyo Olympics after receiving a ban for missing drug tests.
Put that mishap aside, and he remains one of the most promising sprinters of his generation and is expected to challenge for gold in upcoming competitions.
Trayvon Bromell (USA) – 9.77s
Born on July 10, 1995, Trayvon Bromell was the first junior athlete to break the 10-second barrier, running 9.97 seconds in 2014 at age 18.
He won bronze at the 2015 World Championships and continued to improve, setting his personal best of 9.77 seconds in 2021.
Bromell’s career has been marked by injuries, but he remains a strong contender for future Olympic and World Championship titles.
Nesta Carter (Jamaica) – 9.78s
Nesta Carter was a key member of Jamaica’s legendary 4x100m relay teams, which dominated from 2008 to 2016.
Born on October 11, 1985, Carter’s 9.78-second personal best, set in 2010, makes him one of the fastest men ever.
That said, Carter’s career took a hit when he was disqualified from the 2008 Olympics due to a positive doping test, costing the Jamaican relay team its gold medal.
Maurice Greene (USA) – 9.79s
One of the most dominant sprinters of the late 1990s and early 2000s, Maurice Greene, was the first man to break 9.80 seconds, setting the 100m world record at 9.79 seconds in 1999.
Born on July 23, 1974, in Kansas City, Greene won the Olympic gold medal in 2000 and World Championship golds in 1997 and 1999.
His 60m world record of 6.39 seconds stood for nearly two decades.
Steve Mullings (Jamaica) – 9.80s
Steve Mullings was an incredible talent but had a short-lived career due to doping violations.
Born on November 28, 1982, Mullings broke 10 seconds multiple times, reaching his personal best of 9.80 seconds in 2011.
Unfortunately, that same year, he tested positive for banned substances for the second time and was given a lifetime ban from athletics, ending what could have been a legendary career.
The Fastest Female Runners of All Time
The 100-meter sprint is the ultimate test of pure speed, and only a handful of women in history have ever run it in under 10.80 seconds.
Here is a look at the fastest female sprinters of all time and how they compare.
Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA) – 10.49s (1988)
When discussing women’s sprinting, no one has ever recorded a faster time than Florence Griffith-Joyner, better known as Flo-Jo.
Born on December 21, 1959, in Los Angeles, California, Flo-Jo became a global icon because of her speed, flamboyant fashion, long nails, and distinctive style.
Her 100m world record of 10.49 seconds, set at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, remains untouched.
In the 200m, she clocked an equally untouchable 21.34 seconds, winning Olympic gold later that year at the Seoul Olympics.
While there was speculation about performance-enhancing drugs due to her sudden improvement in times, Flo-Jo never tested positive for any banned substances.
Tragically, she passed away in 1998 at the age of 38 due to an epileptic seizure.
Her records have stood the test of time, and no sprinter has come within a tenth of a second of her 100m mark.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica) – 10.63s (2021)
Nicknamed the “Pocket Rocket,” Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is the fastest active female sprinter and one of the greatest of all time.
Born on December 27, 1986, in Kingston, Jamaica, she burst onto the global scene in 2008, winning the 100m gold medal at the Beijing Olympics and becoming the first Caribbean woman to do so.
She secured back-to-back Olympic titles in 2008 and 2012 and earned the World Championship title a record five times in the 100m (2009, 2013, 2015, 2019, and 2022).
Her 10.63-second run in Kingston, Jamaica, in 2021 established her as the fastest woman alive, placing her closest to Flo-Jo’s record.
At 5’0” (152 cm), Fraser-Pryce’s small stature and explosive starts give her an edge over taller competitors.
Carmelita Jeter (USA) – 10.64s (2009)
Carmelita Jeter, the third-fastest woman, controlled the sprinting scene during the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Born on November 24, 1979, in Los Angeles, California, she developed a reputation for her incredible finishing speed.
Her 10.64-second sprint at the 2009 Shanghai Golden Grand Prix was the fastest time recorded in twelve years, with only Flo-Jo ever running faster at that point.
She helped the U.S. team win gold in the 4x100m relay at the 2012 London Olympics, setting a world record of 40.82 seconds.
Jeter also won silver in the 100m (10.78s) and bronze in the 200m (22.14s) at the 2012 Olympics, securing her place as one of the sport’s most decorated sprinters.
Marion Jones (USA) – 10.65s (1998)
Marion Jones once stood as one of the most dominant figures in women’s sprinting, though her career later became overshadowed by controversy.
Born on October 12, 1975, in Los Angeles, California, she held a firm grip on the sprinting world in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Her 10.65-second time in 1998 placed her among the fastest women ever.
At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, she celebrated five medals (three gold, two bronze), a historic feat.
But in 2007, she admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs and was stripped of her Olympic medals.
Elaine Thompson Herah (Jamaica) – 10.70s (2021)
Elaine Thompson Herah is the only woman other than Flo-Jo to claim 100m and 200m gold medals at the same Olympic Games, a feat she achieved at Rio 2016 and repeated in Tokyo 2021.
Born on June 28, 1992, in Banana Ground, Jamaica, she proved herself to be one of the most dominant sprinters ever.
Her 10.70-second run in 2021 further strengthened her legacy as one of the sport’s fastest women.
She has won five Olympic gold medals.
Sha’Carri Richardson (USA) – 10.72s (2021)
Sha’Carri Richardson grabbed the world’s attention in 2019, running 10.75 seconds as a teenager at the NCAA Championships.
Born on March 25, 2000, in Dallas, Texas, she pushed her speed even further, recording 10.72 seconds in 2021.
Although a suspension for testing positive for THC kept her from competing at the Tokyo Olympics, Richardson remains one of the biggest names in sprinting.
Christine Arron (France) – 10.73s (1998)
As Europe’s fastest woman, Christine Arron set her 10.73-second personal best at the 1998 European Championships.
Born on September 13, 1973, in Les Abymes, Guadeloupe, she still holds the European record in the 100m.
Arron contributed to France’s gold-winning 4x100m relay team at the 2003 World Championships.
Although she never won an individual Olympic medal, her incredible speed made her a legend in European sprinting.
Merlene Ottey (Jamaica) – 10.74s (1996)
Merlene Ottey left an enduring mark on sprinting, competing at the highest level for over four decades.
Born on May 10, 1960, in Hanover, Jamaica, she remains the only track athlete to compete in seven Olympic Games.
Ottey’s 10.74-second time in 1996 still ranks among the fastest ever, and she accumulated three Olympic silver medals and six bronze medals.
An Olympic gold medal eluded her, but she secured four World Championship gold medals.
Later in her career, she began competing for Slovenia, staying active in international events into her 40s.
Kerron Stewart (Jamaica) – 10.75s (2009)
One of Jamaica’s most consistent sprinters, Kerron Stewart recorded her 10.75-second personal best at the 2009 World Championships, securing silver behind Fraser-Pryce.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, on April 16, 1984, she played a key role in the gold-winning 4x100m relay team at the 2009 World Championships.
Stewart also earned silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, tying for second place in the 100m final with Sherone Simpson.
Evelyn Ashford (USA) & Veronica Campbell Brown (Jamaica) – 10.76s
Evelyn Ashford, born on April 15, 1957, in Louisiana, became the first woman to break 11 seconds at the Olympics and won four Olympic gold medals, including the 1984 100m title.
Veronica Campbell Brown, born on May 15, 1982, remains one of the most decorated Jamaican sprinters ever.
She clinched two Olympic golds in the 200m (2004, 2008) and remains among the few athletes to secure World Championship titles at the youth, junior, and senior levels.
Why Are Male Sprinters Faster Than Female Sprinters?
Male and female sprinters train equally hard, but men have biological advantages that make them faster:
- Higher testosterone levels lead to more muscle mass and explosive strength.
- Longer stride length due to height differences.
- Greater lung capacity for oxygen intake.
This is why no female sprinter has broken the 10-second barrier, whereas dozens of male sprinters have.
What Makes Usain Bolt the Fastest Runner in History?
Usain Bolt is still the fastest human ever recorded, holding the 100-meter world record of 9.58 seconds, which he set at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.
Many sprinters have come close, but no one has been able to match his speed.
So, what made Bolt faster than everyone else?
Several key factors helped him dominate the sport.
One of the biggest reasons was his long stride.
At 6 feet 5 inches (195 cm), Bolt was much taller than most sprinters.
Because of his height, his legs covered more ground with each step.
While most sprinters take 44 to 45 steps to complete a 100-meter race, Bolt only needed 41 steps.
This meant that even if other runners moved their legs just as fast, he would still pull ahead simply by taking fewer steps.
Another major factor was how much force he applied to the ground.
Research shows that speed depends not only on leg movement but also on the force exerted against the track.
Bolt had incredibly strong leg muscles, which allowed him to generate more force with each step.
This extra power helped him accelerate quickly and maintain a high speed throughout the race.
His acceleration was also one of a kind.
While many sprinters start strong but slow down toward the end, Bolt does the opposite.
His reaction time at the starting blocks was not always the fastest, but after about 50 meters, he would begin to accelerate past his competitors.
This is what made his races so exciting to watch—he often won by a clear margin, even if he didn’t have the best start.
Another important factor was his running style and efficiency.
Unlike some sprinters, who tense up while running, Bolt’s technique was smooth and relaxed, which helped him conserve energy.
This helped him keep his top speed longer without using extra energy.
His ability to stay loose and controlled while running at full speed was a skill that set him apart.
Of course, training and genetics also contributed to his success.
Bolt had a special type of fast-twitch muscle fibers, which help with quick bursts of speed and power.
He also trained under coach Glen Mills, who helped him improve his technique and maximize his natural abilities.
Even though he retired in 2017, no one has come close to breaking his 9.58-second record, proving just how special his talent was.
