Fastest Sprinters in History
a Yourlist ranking · the crowd decides the order
From Usain Bolt's otherworldly 9.58 to the new generation chasing his records, these are the fastest humans ever timed. Vote for who you think truly deserves the title of fastest sprinter of all time.
What counts: Ranked primarily by 100m personal best time (approximate, hand/electronic timing eras vary), with 200m best, Olympic/World gold medal count, and peak era considered as supporting context. Figures are approximate and sourced from publicly available records.
Usain Bolt
The undisputed GOAT who holds the still-unbeaten 9.58s world record.
100m PB: 9.58200m PB: 19.19Olympic/World Golds: 19
added by IJRin 5 rankingsUsain Bolt
0Florence Griffith-Joyner
'Flo-Jo' set the still-standing women's 100m/200m world records in 1988.
100m PB: 10.49200m PB: 21.34Olympic/World Golds: 3
added by IJRin 2 rankings
0Elaine Thompson-Herah
Second-fastest woman ever, dominant double-double Olympic champion.
100m PB: 10.54200m PB: 21.53Olympic/World Golds: 5
added by IJR
0Tyson Gay
American sprint legend and one of only a few men ever under 9.70.
100m PB: 9.69200m PB: 19.58Olympic/World Golds: 1
added by IJRin 2 rankings
0Yohan Blake
Bolt's training partner and the second-fastest man ever over 100m.
100m PB: 9.69200m PB: 19.26Olympic/World Golds: 1
added by IJRin 2 rankingsYohan Blake
0Asafa Powell
Held the world record before Bolt and ran sub-9.90 more times than anyone.
100m PB: 9.72200m PB: 19.90Olympic/World Golds: 0
added by IJRin 2 rankingsAsafa Powell
0Christian Coleman
Explosive starter and reigning fastest man of the modern American era.
100m PB: 9.76200m PB: 19.85Olympic/World Golds: 2
added by IJRin 2 rankings
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Noah Lyles
Current 100m/200m world champion carrying the torch into a new era.
100m PB: 9.83200m PB: 19.31Olympic/World Golds: 3
added by IJRin 2 rankingsNoah Lyles
0Justin Gatlin
Controversial but consistently elite, beating Bolt at the 2017 World Championships.
100m PB: 9.74200m PB: 19.57Olympic/World Golds: 5
added by IJRin 2 rankingsJustin Gatlin
0Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
The greatest female sprinter ever, with unmatched longevity and titles.
100m PB: 10.60200m PB: 22.62Olympic/World Golds: 10
added by IJRShelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
0Michael Johnson
200m/400m legend whose 19.32 stood as a world record for years.
100m PB: —200m PB: 19.32Olympic/World Golds: 5
added by IJRin 2 rankings
0Carl Lewis
Nine-time Olympic gold medalist and dominant force of the 1980s-90s.
100m PB: 9.86200m PB: 19.75Olympic/World Golds: 9
added by IJRin 4 rankings
0Maurice Greene
Dominant late-90s/early-2000s champion who once held the world record.
100m PB: 9.79200m PB: 19.86Olympic/World Golds: 4
added by IJRMaurice Greene
0Fred Kerley
400m convert turned 100m world champion with blistering top-end speed.
100m PB: 9.76200m PB: 19.76Olympic/World Golds: 1
added by IJRin 2 rankings
0Trayvon Bromell
American sprinter renowned for his lightning-fast starts.
100m PB: 9.76200m PB: 20.29Olympic/World Golds: 0
added by IJRTrayvon Bromell
0Donovan Bailey
Canadian 1996 Olympic champion who set a world record in Atlanta.
100m PB: 9.84200m PB: —Olympic/World Golds: 1
added by IJRDonovan Bailey
0Linford Christie
British sprint icon and 1992 Olympic 100m champion.
100m PB: 9.87200m PB: —Olympic/World Golds: 1
added by IJR
0Ben Johnson
Shocked the world in 1988 before a doping scandal erased his record.
100m PB: 9.79200m PB: —Olympic/World Golds: 0
added by IJR
0Nesta Carter
Jamaican relay stalwart with a sub-9.80 individual best.
100m PB: 9.78200m PB: 20.30Olympic/World Golds: 0
added by IJR
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