This overhead shot shows the start of the finals of the men’s 100 meter race during the Tokyo Olympics. Although Usain Bolt’s world record of 9.58 seconds has stood since 2009, it does not approach the limits of human possibility. (Credit: Reuters/Tokyo Olympics)
How fast can a human possibly run 100 meters?
The all-time record is Usain Bolt’s 9.58 seconds, set in 2009. What is the fastest time, ultimately, for an ideal human body?
In 2008, Usain Bolt won Olympic gold, setting the 100 meter world record.
In the 2008 Olympics. Usain Bolt not only won Olympic gold, he outclassed all of his rivals and became the first human to break through the 9.70 second barrier. (Credit: PhotoBobil & SillyFolkBoy/Wikimedia Commons)
With an automatic time of 9.572 seconds (adjusted for a wind assistance of 0.9 m/s to 9.58 seconds), Usain Bolt’s performance in the 2009 World Championships remains the fastest a human has ever run a 100 meter race. (Credit: IAAF World Championships, 2009)
No other runner, before or since, has broken the 9.60 second barrier.
Although runners Tyson Gay, Yohan Blake, Asafa Powell, and Justin Gatlin have all run 100 meter times between 9.69 and 9.75 seconds, only Usain Bolt has broken the 9.6 second barrier. (Credit: English Language Wikipedia)
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