Bolt, Omanyala and the Top 8 Fastest Sprinters in History

The men's 100m dash stands as one of the highly anticipated and cherished events in every Athletics competition, determining the title of "The fastest man alive."

Identifying the greatest sprinters of all time becomes a challenging task, considering the various factors like advancements in training techniques, nutrition, and equipment.

To provide some clarity, here's a compilation of the Top eight sprinters boasting the fastest 100m times ever recorded.

8. Ferdinand Omanyala (9.77s)

In the midst of numerous American and Jamaican athletes, we find an exceptional runner from Kenya, Ferdinand Omanyala, currently ranking as the sixth fastest in the world.

Omanyala's incredible feat of clocking a time of 9.77 seconds in the 100 meters on 18th September 2021 in Nairobi earned him the title of African record holder and placed him among the top six fastest men in history for the event. Moreover, he also holds the Kenyan record in the 60-meter race.

This remarkable 27-year-old athlete boasts an impressive record, having secured three gold medals across six major competitions to date.

Omanyala's achievements showcase his talent and dedication to the sport at the international level.

7. Christian Coleman (9.76s)

Christian Coleman finally got the title that eluded him, storming to a World Lead (WL) and Lifetime’s Best of 9.76s to win his first ever 100m World Title at the World Championships in Doha in 2019.

Coleman led an American 1-2 finish, getting the better of his compatriot, Justin Gatlin, who ran 9.89s to get the Silver.

6. Trayvon Bromell (9.76s)

Trayvon Bromell banished his 2020 Olympic disappointment and beat his own world-leading time in the 100 metres, winning the Kip Keino Classic in 9.76 seconds in Nairobi.

The 28-year-old Bromell was back in peak form for the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series event, exploding off the blocks and fending off Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala, who finished second in an African record 9.77.

5. Justin Gatlin (9.74s)

Gatlin's extensive career has witnessed numerous remarkable 100m races, with the swiftest among them occurring in Ad-Dawhah, Qatar, in 2015, where he clocked an impressive time of 9.74 seconds. His journey has been nothing short of a roller coaster ride, featuring both triumphant and challenging moments.

Notably, Gatlin achieved the pinnacle of success by clinching a gold medal for the USA in the 100m at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, marking a shining moment in his career. Conversely, he has faced numerous hurdles, including positive drug tests and doping allegations that have cast shadows over his achievements.

As a consequence of these issues, Gatlin experienced a significant setback, receiving a four-year ban from international athletics. Despite his ups and downs, his impact on the sport remains a subject of both admiration and controversy.

4. Asafa Powell (9.72s)

Lausanne, Switzerland witnessed Powell's groundbreaking run in 2008, where he left his competitors behind and set a world record time of 9.72s.

Although this record was eventually surpassed by Usain Bolt later in the same year, Powell's athletic journey has been nothing short of remarkable.

Throughout the past decade, he has consistently been among the finest 100m sprinters on the global stage.

3. Tyson Gay (9.69s)

Gay, the holder of the American 100m record, showcased his exceptional speed during a 2009 race in Shanghai, where he completed the 100m in a remarkable 9.69s.

Notably, he also achieved an impressive time of 9.68s at the 2008 US Olympic Trials, but this mark cannot be considered for records due to a strong tailwind, which provided an unfair advantage.

Despite securing several World Championship gold medals, Gay has faced challenges in translating his success to the Olympic stage.

His sole Olympic medal came through the 4x100m relay at the 2012 London Games, but it was later stripped from the American team due to certain members failing drug tests.

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2. Yohan Blake (9.69s)

Similar to Tyson Gay, Blake has also achieved a personal best time of 9.69s in the 100m.

However, Blake secures the second spot on this list since his remarkable performance took place under more challenging wind conditions compared to Gay's run.

Blake's impressive achievement occurred during a 2012 meet in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Although Blake may occasionally be overshadowed by his fellow Jamaican countryman, Usain Bolt, he holds a significant distinction as the youngest 100m men's champion in World Championships' history, an accomplishment that Bolt can never surpass.

1. Usain Bolt (9.58s)

As expected, the current 100m world record holder and three-time Olympic champion in the 100m delivered an astounding time of 9.58s at the 2009 Track and Field World Championships in Berlin.

This remarkable performance marked the third occasion Bolt shattered the 100m world record during a dominant year and a half period from 2008 to 2009, wherein he secured an impressive total of 5 Olympic and World Championship gold medals.

Notably, Bolt also holds the second-fastest 100m time in history, a blistering 9.63s, which earned him gold at the 2012 Olympics in London. This achievement constituted the second of his unprecedented three Olympic 100m gold medals.