Usain Bolt and other sprint legends — who is the fastest man on the planet?

Usain St. Leo Bolt (born 21 August 1986) — a Jamaican sprinter regarded as the fastest man in history. His 100 m world record (9.58 s) and 200 m record (19.19 s), set in Berlin in 2009, remain unbeaten.
Bolt won 8 Olympic gold medals and 11 World Championship gold medals. His fastest recorded speed — 44.72 km/h (27.8 mph) over the 60–80 metre segment of the 100 m race.
| Year | Time | Athlete | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1912 | 10.6 s | Donald Lippincott | USA |
| 1968 | 9.95 s | Jim Hines | USA |
| 1991 | 9.86 s | Carl Lewis | USA |
| 1999 | 9.79 s | Maurice Greene | USA |
| 2005 | 9.77 s | Asafa Powell | Jamaica |
| 2008 | 9.69 s | Usain Bolt | Jamaica |
| 2009 | 9.58 s | Usain Bolt | Jamaica |
Bolt's height (195 cm) and long legs allowed him to take fewer steps over the 100 m distance — just 41 steps, while his rivals took 44–46.
Bolt's muscle fibres — mostly type IIb (fast-twitch). His start reaction and acceleration were unmatched.
Bolt maintained a vertical posture and maximum stride length even at top speed — a rare trait among sprinters.
The pressure of major competitions did not stop Bolt — he delivered his best performances precisely in finals.
Florence Griffith-Joyner's (USA) 100 m world record — 10.49 s, set in 1988 — has stood for more than 35 years. It is one of the longest-standing records in athletics.
Her 200 m record — 21.34 s — also remains unbeaten. Elaine Thompson-Herah (Jamaica) came close with 21.53 s in Tokyo in 2021.
Whatever your sport, proper nutrition is the foundation for results. Here are the key nutrition principles followed by professional athletes:
1.6–2.2 g/kg of body weight per day. Choose: chicken, fish, eggs, whey protein, plant proteins.
4–7 g/kg depending on the workload. Whole-grain products, fruits, vegetables. Before and after training.
0.8–1.2 g/kg. Avocados, nuts, olive oil, omega-3 fatty acids.
30–40 ml/kg per day. During sport: 500–1000 ml/h with electrolytes for longer workouts.
Periodize your training: after an intense cycle, be sure to include a recovery week. Progress happens during rest, not during training.
Record your workouts, nutrition and sleep quality. After a month, you will have data showing what works best.
Pain is not a sign of weakness — it is a signal. Learn to distinguish good muscle fatigue from injury risk.
Set short-term, achievable goals. Every small win builds motivation for bigger challenges.
Whatever your sport or record — proper nutrition and supplements help you achieve more. Choose the ones that suit you best: