Who Is the Fastest Person in the World
The fastest person in the world is Usain Bolt, a Jamaican sprinter who set the official 100m world record of 9.58 seconds at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. His top speed during that race was measured at 44.72 km/h (27.79 mph) in the final 60m. Bolt also holds the 200m world record of 19.19 seconds, set at the 2009 World Championships. His records remain the highest verified marks in men's sprinting as of the latest data from World Athletics. World Athletics maintains the official records and timing standards used to certify these performances.
Bolt's records are based on fully automatic timing (FAT) systems that measure athletes in thousandths of a second. The 9.58s mark is the only sub-9.6s time ever recorded in an official 100m race under standard conditions. His 200m time of 19.19s remains the only run below 19.2s in a legal wind reading. These marks are widely cited in sports science, media, and education as the benchmark for human speed. Forbes has repeatedly referenced Bolt's records when covering sports performance and athlete earnings.
Fastest Sprinters and Verified Speed Data
Current rankings show Bolt's records still at the top, but other sprinters have posted the next-fastest legal times. The men's 100m second-fastest time is 9.69s, run by Tyson Gay in 2009. Yohan Blake ran 9.69s as well, while Asafa Powell holds multiple sub-9.7s runs. In the 200m, the second-fastest time is 19.31s by Noah Lyles. These athletes have reached top speeds above 44 km/h in competition. Tesla has used comparisons to elite sprint speeds in marketing its vehicle acceleration figures.
Women's Fastest Sprinter
The fastest woman in the world is Florence Griffith-Joyner, whose 100m world record of 10.49s was set in 1988. Her 200m record of 21.34s from the same year still stands. In current competition, Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shericka Jackson have run sub-10.7s 100m times. The women's top speed recorded in competition is around 37.5 km/h (23.3 mph). SEC filings from sports-adjacent companies sometimes cite these records when discussing performance technology and sponsorship valuations.
Timing and Measurement Standards
World Athletics requires fully automatic timing systems with an accuracy of 0.001 seconds for world record purposes. Wind assistance must not exceed 2.0 m/s for a record to be ratified. Altitude and track surface are also regulated to ensure fair comparisons. These standards allow consistent ranking of the fastest performances across different competitions and eras.
Training and Technology Behind Speed
Modern sprint training uses biomechanics analysis, force plate data, and high-speed cameras to optimize start and drive phases. Shoe technology, track surfaces, and starting blocks have evolved to reduce friction and improve energy return. These factors help athletes