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The fastest 100m times in history reveal pure sprinting greatness, with Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce firmly stamping their dominance on the all-time charts.
The 100m is undeniably more than just a race as it showcases raw human speed, displaying a test of power and precision.
Track and field fans are always thrilled to watch the 100m, and the athletes who have made it onto the all-time list are not just fast; they have broken barriers and changed the narrative.
In this article, Pulse Sports Kenya explores the top 10 fastest legal 100m times ever recorded for both men and women. For a 100m time to be officially recognised as a record, it must be ‘wind legal.’
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This simply means that the tailwind, the wind blowing from behind the runner, cannot exceed a speed of +2.0 meters per second.
Top 10 Fastest Men's 100m Times
1) 9.58 seconds: Usain Bolt
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Usain Bolt, the fastest man alive, clocked 9.58 seconds while winning the World Championships in 2009 in Berlin, Germany.
His time is arguably the most legendary moment in athletics history. Just a year after his Beijing Olympic triumph, Usain Bolt arrived at the World Championships in Berlin.
He was a global superstar, but this performance solidified his status as an icon. Usain Bolt’s iconic image of him looking to his left and smiling as he approached the finish line is forever seared into the minds of sports fans.
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2) 9.63 seconds: Usain Bolt (JAM)
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Usain Bolt also owns the second-fastest time in history, having clocked a stunning 9.63 seconds at the 2012 London Olympics.
Lining up against a strong field, the pressure was immense on Usain Bolt to defend his titles. He had lost to training partner Yohan Blake at the Jamaican trials earlier in the season, adding a layer of suspense.
In a packed Olympic Stadium, Usain Bolt did not disappoint as he delivered a masterclass in sprinting, winning his second consecutive Olympic gold in an Olympic record time.
3) 9.69 seconds: Usain Bolt
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This is the iconic race that introduced Usain Bolt to the world as the ‘fastest man on Earth.’ In the Olympic final, a then 21-year-old Bolt destroyed the field.
In a moment of pure showmanship, he slowed down and celebrated before the finish line. Even with the early celebration, he broke his own world record and set a new Olympic record, proving his otherworldly speed.
4) 9.69 seconds: Tyson Gay (USA)
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In that race, Tyson Gay broke Usain Bolt’s dominance with his 9.69-second run. Just over a month after Usain Bolt's Berlin record, American sprinter Tyson Gay ran the fastest time in history.
Tyson Gay was famous for his technical precision and powerful finish. He had been a dominant force for years, and his performance in Shanghai demonstrated his immense talent.
The time put him firmly in the conversation of the all-time greats, tying for the second-fastest time ever recorded.
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5) 9.69 seconds: Yohan Blake (JAM)
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Yohan Blake was the rising star and primary rival to Usain Bolt in the early 2010s. After winning the 2011 World Championship when Usain Bolt false-started, Yohan Blake followed up his London Olympic silver with this blistering performance.
He then went ahead and clocked a stunning 9.69 seconds at the Diamond League Meeting in Lausanne in 2012. This run, along with his 9.75 seconds earlier that season, cemented his place as the second-fastest man in history and a force to be reckoned with.
6) 9.71 seconds: Tyson Gay (USA)
Tyson Gay clocked the time in Berlin, Germany, in 2009, in the same race as Usain Bolt's 9.58-second world record.
Running against Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay delivered a phenomenal performance that, on any other day, would have been the headline.
His time was a new American record and highlighted the incredibly high level of competition in that legendary final.
7) 9.72 seconds: Usain Bolt (JAM)
When Usain Bolt clocked 9.72 seconds in 2008 in New York City, he truly announced himself to the world. Usain Bolt powered to a new world record. This performance was the prelude to his era of domination.
8) 9.72 seconds: Asafa Powell (JAM)
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Asafa Powell, a former world record holder, was known for his consistency and ability to run fast times. He had held the world record before Usain Bolt's rise.
His run in Lausanne in 2008 was one of his fastest and showcased his continued speed and relevance on the global stage, even after losing his record.
9) 9.74 seconds: Asafa Powell (JAM)
The race saw Asafa Powell set the final world record. Competing in Italy in 2007, Asafa Powell powered to a 9.74-second world record.
Set in a track known for fast times, his performance was a testament to his sheer power and flawless technique. It further solidified his reputation as the ‘sub-10 king,’ as he broke the 10-second barrier more times than anyone else in history.
10) 9.74 seconds: Justin Gatlin (USA)
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A controversial yet incredibly successful sprinter, Justin Gatlin staged a remarkable comeback after a four-year doping ban.
By the mid-2010s, he was running faster than he ever had. This time in Doha, in 2015, at the age of 33, was a personal best and put him in the conversation to challenge Usain Bolt for the world title later that season.
Top 10 Fastest Women's 100m Times
The women's all-time list features a mix of historic and recent performances, with a long-standing world record.
1) 10.49 seconds: Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA)
Known as ‘Flo-Jo,’ the late Florence Griffith-Joyner's world record from the US Olympic Trials is the most debated and legendary mark in the sport.
The time, 10.49 seconds, and set in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, in 1988, was a jaw-dropping drop from her previous best and the world record, leading to widespread speculation.
2) 10.54 seconds: Florence Griffith-Joyner
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This time was a wind-aided performance (+3.0 m/s) at the Seoul Olympics in 1988, where Flo-Jo won the gold medal in the final.
While not a legal record, it showcases her extraordinary speed in a high-pressure Olympic final. It is often included in unofficial lists to show the full scope of her talent.
3) 10.54 seconds: Elaine Thompson-Herah (JAM)
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After her historic double at the delayed Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, Elaine Thompson-Herah arrived at the Prefontaine Classic on a mission.
She ran a blistering race, coming tantalisingly close to Flo-Jo's record. This performance made her the fastest woman alive and the fastest wind-legal runner in history.
4) 10.60 seconds: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM)
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Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, known as the ‘Pocket Rocket,’ is a five-time World Champion and one of the most decorated sprinters in history.
After her silver medal in Tokyo, she continued to dominate the Diamond League circuit. This race in Lausanne, in 2021, showcased her remarkable career longevity and her ability to consistently deliver elite performances, even after becoming a mother.
5) 10.61 seconds: Florence Griffith-Joyner
This time was run in the final of the US Olympic Trials, just one day after her 10.49-second qualifier.
This performance, which was wind-aided (+1.2 m/s), is considered by many statisticians to be her fastest truly wind-legal time if the 10.49 record is discounted, though it is still slower than her official record.
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6) 10.61 seconds: Elaine Thompson-Herah (JAM)
This race was a historic Olympic final. Elaine Thompson-Herah stunningly defended her 2016 Olympic title, setting a new Olympic record.
The time was her second fastest ever and kicked off her incredible post-Olympic season, where she consistently challenged the world record.
7) 10.62 seconds: Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA)
This time was a wind-aided performance (+1.2 m/s) in the qualifiers of the Seoul Olympics in 1988. While not a legal record, it demonstrated Flo-Jo’s extraordinary speed and power, which led to her winning the final just a short time later.
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8) 10.62 seconds: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
The 10.62 seconds Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce clocked at the Diamond League Meeting in Monaco in 2022 was a world-leading time for the season.
It was also a meet record at the Monaco Diamond League. It was part of an incredible year for Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, in which she ran under 10.70 six times, demonstrating her unparalleled consistency.
9) 10.63 seconds: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (JAM)
In the lead-up to the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce showed she was in peak form with this brilliant run that saw her clock 10.63 seconds at the JOA/JAAA Olympic Destiny Series 3.
It was a new personal best for her and the first time she had broken the 10.70-second barrier, a significant milestone for any sprinter.
10) 10.64 seconds: Carmelita Jeter (USA)
At the peak of her career, Carmelita Jeter ran 10.64 seconds in 2009 in Shanghai, China, which made her the second-fastest woman in history at the time.
A powerful finisher, Carmelita Jeter was a major force in the late 2000s and early 2010s, winning multiple world championships and Olympic medals.