Here are the top 10 fastest people in history, based on official race times and record-breaking performances:
10. Usain Bolt
Usain Bolt is a retired Jamaican sprinter and former world record holder. He was born on August 21, 1986 in Sherwood Content, Jamaica.
Bolt is widely regarded as one of the greatest sprinters of all time, and is known for his dominance in the 100-meter and 200-meter events. He won eight Olympic gold medals, including six in the 100-meter and 200-meter events, and he set world records in both events. In addition, he won 11 World Championship gold medals and numerous other international medals.
In addition to his success on the track, Bolt is also known for his outgoing personality and his love of the spotlight. He is known for his signature “lightning bolt” celebration and his charming demeanor, which have helped make him a fan favorite and a global sports icon.
Off the track, Bolt is known for his charitable work and his commitment to giving back to his community. He has worked with organizations such as the Usain Bolt Foundation and UNICEF to promote education and sports participation among young people in Jamaica.
Overall, Usain Bolt is a talented and accomplished athlete who has had a highly successful career at the highest levels of track and field. He is also known for his outgoing personality and his dedication to charitable causes.
9. Tyson Gay
Tyson Gay is an American track and field sprinter and former world champion. He was born on August 9, 1982 in Lexington, Kentucky.
Gay is best known for his achievements in the 100-meter and 200-meter events. He won gold medals in both events at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics, setting a new personal best time in the 100-meter event. In addition, he won a silver medal in the 100-meter event at the 2012 London Olympics and a bronze medal in the 4×100-meter relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In addition to his success at the Olympic and World Championship level, Gay has also had success at the international level. He has won gold medals at the Pan American Games and the World Cup, and has set numerous national and regional records.
Off the track, Gay is known for his charitable work and his commitment to giving back to his community. He has worked with organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club and the American Cancer Society to promote education and health among young people.
Overall, Tyson Gay is a talented and accomplished athlete who has had a successful career at the highest levels of track and field. He is also known for his dedication to charitable causes and his commitment to giving back to his community.
8. Yohan Blake
Yohan Blake, also known as “The Beast,” is a Jamaican sprinter and former world champion. He was born on December 26, 1989 in St. James, Jamaica.
Blake is best known for his achievements in the 100-meter and 200-meter events. He won a silver medal in the 100-meter event at the 2012 London Olympics and a bronze medal in the 200-meter event at the 2016 Rio Olympics. In addition, he won gold medals in both events at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics, setting a new personal best time in the 100-meter event.
In addition to his success at the Olympic and World Championship level, Blake has also had success at the international level. He has won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and Pan American Games, and has set numerous national and regional records.
Off the track, Blake is known for his charitable work and his commitment to giving back to his community. He has worked with organizations such as UNICEF and the Usain Bolt Foundation to promote education and sports participation among young people in Jamaica.
Overall, Yohan Blake is a talented and accomplished athlete who has had a successful career at the highest levels of track and field. He is also known for his dedication to charitable causes and his commitment to giving back to his community.
7. Asafa Powell
Asafa Powell is a Jamaican sprinter who is best known for his success in the 100-meter dash. He was born on November 23, 1982 in Spanish Town, Jamaica, and began running track at a young age. Powell attended the University of Technology, Jamaica, where he won numerous national championships and set several school records.
Powell made his Olympic debut at the 2004 Athens Games, where he won a bronze medal in the 100-meter dash. He followed this up with a gold medal at the 2005 World Championships, setting a personal best time of 9.77 seconds in the final.
Throughout his career, Powell has set the world record in the 100-meter dash on multiple occasions, with a personal best time of 9.72 seconds. He has also had success in the 4×100-meter relay, setting a personal best time of 37.10 seconds. Powell has won several international medals in this event, including a gold medal at the 2007 World Championships and a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics.
In addition to his success on the track, Powell has also been involved in philanthropic efforts, including his work with the Asafa Powell Foundation, which promotes education and physical fitness for children. After retiring from competition, Powell has become a successful track and field coach, working with numerous Olympic and World Championship medalists.
6. Jamaica
The Jamaica national track and field team is one of the most successful teams in the world, with numerous Olympic and World Championship medals to its credit. The team is made up of some of the fastest sprinters in the world, including Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, and Asafa Powell.
Jamaica has a rich history in track and field, with its first Olympic medal coming in 1948, when Arthur Wint won a gold medal in the 400-meter dash. Since then, the team has gone on to win numerous medals at both the Olympic and World Championship level, with a particular focus on the sprint events.
One of the most notable achievements of the Jamaica team was its world record time of 36.84 seconds in the 4×100-meter relay, set at the 2012 London Olympics. The team has also won numerous medals in this event, including four Olympic gold medals and eight World Championship gold medals.
In addition to its success on the track, the Jamaica team is also known for its philanthropic efforts, including its work with the Jamaica Track and Field Federation, which promotes education and physical fitness for children.
Â
5. Pietro Mennea
Pietro Mennea was an Italian sprinter who is best known for his European record in the 200-meter dash, which he set at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. He was born on June 28, 1952 in Barletta, Italy, and began running track at a young age. Mennea represented Italy at numerous international competitions, including three Olympics and five World Championships.
Mennea’s greatest success came at the 1979 World Championships, where he won a gold medal in the 200-meter dash with a time of 20.19 seconds. He followed this up with a silver medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, setting a European record of 19.72 seconds in the final. Mennea’s European record stood for nearly two decades, and was finally broken by Usain Bolt in 2009.
In addition to his success on the track, Mennea was also known for his philanthropic efforts, including his work with the Pietro Mennea Foundation, which promotes education and physical fitness for children. After retiring from competition, Mennea became a successful track and field coach, working with numerous Olympic and World Championship medalists.
4. Christian Coleman
Christian Coleman is an American track and field sprinter who specializes in the 100-meter and 200-meter events. He is a two-time World Championship gold medalist and a former world record holder in the indoor 60-meter dash.
Coleman was born on March 6, 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended the University of Tennessee, where he became a standout sprinter on the track and field team. In 2017, he won the NCAA Indoor Championship in the 60-meter dash and was named the Most Outstanding Performer of the meet.
After turning professional, Coleman quickly rose to the top of the sport. In 2018, he won the gold medal in the 100-meter dash at the World Indoor Championships, setting a new world record in the indoor 60-meter dash in the process. He followed up this success with another gold medal in the 100-meter dash at the 2019 World Championships, setting a new personal best time of 9.76 seconds.
In addition to his success on the track, Coleman has also faced controversy and legal issues. In 2019, he missed three doping tests, leading to a ban from competition that was later overturned on appeal. He has also faced legal charges related to a hit and run accident in 2020, although the case was later dismissed.
Despite these challenges, Coleman remains one of the top sprinters in the world and is a leading contender for medals at future international competitions.
3. Justin Gatlin
Justin Gatlin is an American sprinter who has had a successful career at the international level. He was born on February 10, 1982 in Brooklyn, New York, and began running track at a young age. Gatlin attended the University of Tennessee, where he won numerous national championships and set several school records.
In 2004, Gatlin made his Olympic debut at the Athens Games, where he won a gold medal in the 100-meter dash with a time of 9.85 seconds. He followed this up with another gold medal at the 2005 World Championships, setting a personal best time of 9.88 seconds in the 100-meter final.
Gatlin continued to excel on the international stage, winning gold medals at the 2007 World Championships and the 2012 Olympics. He has recorded personal best times of 9.74 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 19.57 seconds in the 200-meter dash.
In addition to his success on the track, Gatlin has faced controversy due to doping allegations. He served a four-year ban from 2006 to 2010 after testing positive for an illegal substance, and has faced criticism for his repeated doping violations. Despite this, Gatlin has maintained his position as one of the top sprinters in the world and has continued to compete at the highest level.
2. Jesse Owens
Jesse Owens was an American track and field athlete who is best known for his record-breaking performances at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He was born on September 12, 1913 in Oakville, Alabama, and began running track at a young age. Owens attended Ohio State University, where he won numerous national championships and set several school records.
Owens made his Olympic debut at the 1936 Berlin Games, where he won four gold medals in the 100-meter, 200-meter, 4×100-meter relay, and long jump events. He set a world record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 20.7 seconds, and his performances at the Berlin Olympics are still considered some of the greatest in Olympic history.
In addition to his Olympic success, Owens also won three gold medals at the 1935 World Championships, and held the world record in the 100-yard dash for more than 20 years. After retiring from competition, Owens became a successful track and field coach, working with numerous Olympic and World Championship medalists. He was also known for his philanthropic efforts, including his work with the Jesse Owens Foundation, which promotes education and physical fitness for children.
1. Carl Lewis
Carl Lewis is an American track and field athlete who is widely considered one of the greatest sprinters of all time. He was born on July 1, 1961 in Birmingham, Alabama, and began running track at a young age. Lewis attended the University of Houston, where he won numerous national championships and set several school records.
Lewis made his Olympic debut at the 1980 Moscow Games, where he won a gold medal in the 4×100-meter relay. He followed this up with four gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, winning the 100-meter, 200-meter, 4×100-meter relay, and long jump events.
Throughout his career, Lewis won a total of nine Olympic gold medals and eight World Championship gold medals. He held the world record in the 100-meter dash for more than a decade, and also set world records in the long jump and 4×100-meter relay.
In addition to his success on the track, Lewis was also known for his philanthropic efforts, including his work with the Carl Lewis Foundation, which promotes physical fitness and education for children. After retiring from competition, Lewis became a successful track and field coach, working with numerous Olympic and World Championship medalists.
In addition to these top 10 fastest people in history, there have been many other talented sprinters who have made significant contributions to the sport. Some notable examples include Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis