10. Maurice Greene – 9.79 seconds
Maurice Greene, a renowned sprinter, achieved the fastest recorded speed in the 100 meters with a remarkable time of 9.79 seconds.
This achievement in Athens on June 17, 1999, was a significant improvement from his previous time of 10.08 seconds, making it the second-fastest 100-meter time in the world at that point in 1997.
Greene’s exceptional speed and talent have led him to break records and set his sights on Olympic success, with his world-record-breaking performance propelling him towards stardom in the sprinting world.
His consistency is evident as he has gone under 10 seconds in the 100 meters an impressive 17 times by the age of 24.
Maurice Greene’s legacy as one of the fastest sprinters ever remains unparalleled, solidifying his place in track and field history
9. Nesta Carter – 9.78 seconds
Nesta Carter, born on October 11, 1985, is a retired Jamaican sprinter who specialized in the 100 metres event.
He was successful as part of the Jamaican 4 x 100 metres relay team, taking gold and setting successive world records at the 2011 World Championships and 2012 London Olympics.
Carter’s career in athletics began in high school, where he represented Manchester High School in central Jamaica.
He later became a member of the MVP (Maximising Velocity and Power), a Jamaican track and field club.
His fastest recorded speed in the 100 metres event is 9.78 seconds, achieved at the Rieti IAAF World Challenge in Italy in 2010. This remarkable feat made him the fifth sprinter to run the 100 metres in less than 9.8 seconds.
However, his career faced a setback when the International Olympic Committee sanctioned him for doping at the 2008 Olympic Games, leading to the loss of his and his teammates’ gold medals for the men’s 4 × 100 m relay.
Despite this, Carter’s contributions to athletics, particularly in the 100 metres event, remain significant. He officially announced his retirement on August 31, 2021.
7. Trayvon Bromell – 9.76 seconds
rayvon Bromell, an exceptional sprinter, achieved a remarkable feat by running the 100 meters in just 9.76 seconds in Toronto in 2016.
This impressive time places him among the fastest sprinters in history, making him the joint sixth-fastest man of all time in the 100 meters.
Trayvon Bromell’s outstanding speed and talent have been evident throughout his career, with notable achievements like winning the 60-meter dash at the 2016 World Indoor Championships with a time of 6.47 seconds.
Despite facing injury setbacks, Bromell has shown resilience and determination, gearing up for another Olympic run and continuing to showcase his exceptional speed on the track
7. Fred Kerley – 9.76 seconds
Fred Kerley, an exceptional sprinter, achieved a remarkable time of 9.76 seconds in the 100 meters.
This impressive performance solidified his position among the fastest sprinters globally, showcasing his exceptional speed and talent on the track.
Fred Kerley’s success continued as he led a U.S. sweep in the 100 meters at the World Championships, further establishing himself as a top contender in the sprinting world.
His record-breaking runs at various championships have made him a favorite in the 100 meters, highlighting his consistency and skill in the sport.
6. Christian Coleman – 9.76 seconds
Christian Coleman, born on March 6, 1996, is an American professional track and field sprinter who competes in the 100 meters and 200 meters.
He was the world champion in the 100 meters in 2019 and also won gold as part of the men’s 4 × 100-meter relay.
He holds personal bests of 9.76 seconds for the 100 m, which made him the 6th fastest all-time in the history of the 100 meters event.
The record time of 9.76 seconds was achieved at the World Athletics Championships in Doha in 2019. In the 100m final, Coleman finished well clear of defending champion and fellow American Justin Gatlin, who clocked 9.89.
This victory was significant as it came amidst controversy surrounding Coleman, who had avoided a ban for three missed doping tests. Despite the controversy, Coleman’s performance in Doha solidified his status as one of the world’s top sprinters.
Please note that while Coleman’s achievement is impressive, it’s important to remember that athletic performances can vary due to a variety of factors, including training, conditions, and the athlete’s physical condition at the time of the event.
It’s also worth noting that Coleman was provisionally suspended from competition due to a missed drug test dating back to December 9, 2019.
On October 27, it was announced that Coleman had been banned until May 13, 2022, missing the 2020 Summer Olympics.
He later appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sports that reduced his suspension to a year, but he still missed the 2020 Summer Olympics.
5. Justin Gatlin – 9.74 seconds
Justin Gatlin, born on February 10, 1982, is a retired American sprinter who competed in the 60 meters, 100 meters, and 200 meters. He is the 2004 Olympic Champion in the 100 meters, the 2005 and 2017 World Champion in the 100 meters, the 2005 World Champion in the 200 meters, and the 2019 World Champion in the 4 x 100 meters relay. In addition, Gatlin is the 2003 and 2012 World Indoor Champion in the 60 meters. He is a 5-time Olympic medalist and a 12-time World Championship medalist.
Gatlin’s personal best of 9.74 seconds ranks fifth on the all-time list of male 100-meter athletes. This record was achieved at the IAAF Doha Diamond League in May 2015. At the age of 33, Gatlin broke his own 100m record for a man over the age of 30 by running 9.74 seconds, which is also his personal best over the distance. This performance set a new meet record and was the world-leading time for that year.
However, Gatlin’s career has been marked by controversy.
In 2001, he incurred a two-year ban from athletics for testing positive for amphetamines, later reduced to one year because of an appeal. In 2006, he incurred a further four-year ban for testing positive for testosterone, with this sanction erasing his then-world-record time of 9.77 seconds in the 100 meters.
Despite these setbacks, Gatlin returned to competition and continued to achieve remarkable performances in his career.
4. Asafa Powell – 9.72 seconds
Asafa Powell, born on November 23, 1982, is a retired Jamaican sprinter who specialized in the 100 meters.
He set the 100 meters world record twice, between June 2005 and May 2008 with times of 9.77 and 9.74 seconds.
His personal best of 9.72 seconds ranks fourth on the all-time list of men’s 100-meter athletes.
As of September 1, 2016, Powell has broken the ten-second barrier more times than anyone else—97 times.
The record time of 9.72 seconds was achieved at the Athletissima Grand Prix in Lausanne, Switzerland, on September 2, 2008. This performance made him the man of the moment in the world of 100 meters.
Despite the wind being just over the legal limit at 2.1 meters per second, the time will not register as the fastest that year. However, Powell was relaxed about it and said, “The wind’s not that much over, so I’m pretty sure that, if it was 2m/s flat, it would have been the same time. I’m still happy with it.”
Powell’s career has been marked by his consistent ability to break the 10-second barrier in competition, his world records, and his contribution to Jamaican relay teams.
2. Tyson Gay – 9.69 seconds
Tyson Gay, the American sprinter, achieved a remarkable feat by running the 100 meters in an astonishing 9.69 seconds, making him the second fastest man of all time and the quickest American in history.
This exceptional performance took place in Shanghai, China, in 2009, where Gay set an American record and showcased his extraordinary speed on the track.
Despite not holding the world record at the time, Gay’s incredible speed surpassed the former 100m world record in 2008, emphasizing his remarkable abilities as a sprinter.
2. Yohan Blake – 9.69 seconds
Yohan Blake, born on December 26, 1989, is a Jamaican sprinter specializing in the 100-meter and 200-meter sprint races.
He won gold at the 100m at the 2011 World Athletics Championships as the youngest 100m world champion ever, and a silver medal in the 2012 Olympic Games in London in the 100m and 200m races for the Jamaican team behind Usain Bolt.
His times of 9.75 in 100m and 19.44 in 200m are the fastest 100m and 200m Olympic sprints in history to not win the gold medal.
Blake is the second fastest man ever in both 100 m and 200 m.
Together with Tyson Gay, he is the joint second fastest man ever over 100 m with a personal best of 9.69 seconds.
The record time of 9.69 seconds was achieved on August 23, 2012. Despite an unfavorable wind condition of -0.2 m/s, Yohan Blake completed the 100 m race in 9.69 seconds.
This personal best tied with America’s Tyson Gay as the second-fastest man in 100 m. Only Usain Bolt has run faster (9.58s, 9.63s, and 9.69s).
His personal best for the 200 m (19.26 seconds) is the second fastest time ever after Bolt (19.19 seconds).
Blake’s achievement of 9.69 seconds came ten years after his career-best time, during which he picked up his fifth Jamaican title ahead of the World Athletics Championships. Despite the wind being just over the legal limit at 2.1 meters per second, the time will not register as the fastest that year. However, Blake was relaxed about it and said, “The wind’s not that much over, so I’m pretty sure that, if it was 2m/s flat, it would have been the same time. I’m still happy with it.”.
Blake’s career has been marked by his consistent ability to break the 10-second barrier in competition, his world records, and his contribution to Jamaican relay teams.
1. Usain Bolt – Fastest recorded speed: 9.58 seconds (37.6 km/h)
Usain Bolt, the legendary Jamaican sprinter, holds the current men’s world record in the 100 meters with a remarkable time of 9.58 seconds.
This exceptional achievement took place in Berlin on August 16, 2009, during the World Athletics Championship.
Bolt’s record-breaking run not only solidified his position among the elite sprinters globally but also highlighted his exceptional talent and dedication to the sport.
At just 22, the Jamaican obliterated a mark he had set exactly one year earlier at the Olympics in Beijing, shaving more than a tenth of a second off the time. This performance set a new meet record and was the world-leading time for that year.
The science behind Bolt’s extraordinary speed can be explained with a mathematical model. The model explains the power and energy he had to expend to overcome drag caused by air resistance, made stronger by his frame of 6ft 5in. Bolt’s 2012 Olympic record of 9.63 seconds in the 100m final was not his fastest 100m sprint. Scientists say they can explain Usain Bolt’s extraordinary speed with a mathematical model.
