Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt, often hailed as the fastest man on Earth, expressed confidence that none of his world records, including the 100m and 200m, are at immediate risk of being broken.
Bolt, an eight-time Olympic gold medalist, set both records with astonishing times of 9.58 seconds in the 100m and 19.19 seconds in the 200m during the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, Germany.
Reflecting on his record-breaking feats, Bolt shared in an interview with World Athletics, “I knew I was going to break the world record because I was in such good shape at the time and I was running great throughout the season.”
None has come close thus far
Several athletes, including Fred Kerley, Ferdinand Omanyala, and Noah Lyles, have voiced their aspirations to surpass Bolt’s 100m world record, but none has come close thus far. Kerley, the 2022 World 100m Champion, boasts a personal best of 9.76 seconds, while Omanyala, the 2022 Commonwealth Champion, has a personal best of 9.77 seconds. Lyles achieved a personal best of 9.83 seconds to claim 100m gold at the Budapest World Championships earlier this year.
In regards to the challenges of breaking these records, Bolt commented, “Not worried about any of them,” and added, “I think the hundred is going to be harder because it’s quicker, and if you make a mistake during the race, you’re not going to get it. It’s a lot more technical, so I think maybe the hundred is going to go last.”
Bolt also spoke about the enduring legacy of being known as the fastest man ever and his connection with fans over the years. “It’s a great title to have. It’s something that I enjoy hearing and I enjoy knowing,” he remarked. “It’s always been so beautiful for me. They give me so much energy. I remember even through the World Championships in the pandemic I was like I could not compete in this. By myself in the stadium, I could not because I live so much for the energy and the vibes.”
