Sprinting Legends: The Greatest Male Sprinters of All Time
The Fastest Men on the Planet: The Greatest Sprinters in Athletics History
Welcome to the exhilarating world of sprinting, where speed meets finesse and athletes push the boundaries of human performance.
What these men achieved off the track has also been taken into account for this list, as its not just in the numbers after all.
But who are the 3 greatest sprinters of all-time? Alexandra Petrova has put together her top picks for The Sporting Blog!
Sprinting icon Jesse Owens
Since its inception as a formal athletic discipline, sprinting has captured the imagination of sports enthusiasts and delivered breathtaking moments of pure athleticism.
The history of sprinting is intertwined with the pursuit of human excellence.
It first emerged as a recognised discipline in the late 19th century, gaining prominence as a crucial component of track and field events.
Over the years, sprinters have become the epitome of power, agility and explosive energy.
With every sprinter that steps onto the starting block, we witness the culmination of years of dedication, training and a burning desire to conquer time itself.
From breaking world records to captivating audiences with their lightning-fast strides, these exceptional athletes have redefined what it means to be a sprint runner.
So, let’s embark on a journey through time to explore the lives and achievements of the greatest sprinters to ever grace the track!
Here are the top 3 sprinters of all time.
1. Usain Bolt
He won the 200m in 2011 with a time of 19.86 seconds: a world record at the time
He won the 100m at London 2012 with a time of 9.63 seconds
The first man to win three gold medals in the 200m at the World Championships
Still holds the current 100m world record - 9.58 seconds
The ultimate legend of the sport, Usain Bolt is widely considered the greatest sprinter of all-time to the point where his name is often used as a synonym for speed or sprinting.
Usain Bolt’s Early Life
Usain Bolt was born in a small town in Jamaica and grew up playing cricket and football with his brother.
His family ran a local grocery store, and he enjoyed playing outdoor sports with his friends and brother from a young age.
Bolt's sprinting talent began to surface during his time at Waldensia Primary School when he participated in his parish's annual national primary school meet and displayed his exceptional speed.
However, it wasn’t until his high school years that his incredible talent and speed were recognised by his cricket coach, who encouraged him to shift his focus towards track and field.
Despite occasional setbacks due to his lack of dedication and mischievous behaviour, Bolt's talent shone through, and with the help and guidance of coaches Pablo McNeil and Dwayne Jarrett, Bolt honed his athletic abilities and emerged as a promising sprinter.
He won his first high school championships medal in 2001.
His rise to prominence continued in the following years as he got to represent Jamaica in both regional and international competitions, and specifically, his performances at the CARIFTA Games and the World Junior Championships caught the attention of the athletics world.
Notable Successes
Even though Usain Bolt’s path was rather uneasy and far from ideal, by 2007 he managed to become a prominent figure in the sprinting world, winning silver medals at the World Championships in both the 200m and the 4x100m relay.
His performances showcased his improved technique and power on the track.
Considering that he dominated the sport and broke several records, and all are equally important, it’s best that we describe all his major achievements and records chronologically.
2011
Bolt began the 2011 World Championships season with winnings in Rome and Ostrava and won the 200m in Oslo with a time of 19.86 seconds, which was a world-leading time at that point.
He won the 200m final at the World Championships with a time of 19.40 seconds, becoming one of only two men to win consecutive 200m world titles.
Furthermore, Bolt won the gold medal in the 4x100m relay, setting a world record time of 37.04 seconds with the Jamaican team.
2012
During the Summer Olympics, Bolt won the 100m in London with a time of 9.63 seconds, setting a new Olympic record - and he is one of the greatest male Olympians in history.
Bolt successfully defended his Olympic title in the 200m, winning with a time of 19.32 seconds. He anchored the Jamaican team to a gold medal in the 4x100m relay, setting a new world record of 36.84 seconds.
With these wins, Bolt became the first man to win the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay titles at consecutive Olympic Games.
2013
During the World Championships, he still managed to win the 100m in Moscow with a time of 9.77 seconds, despite a rather slow start.
He continued by winning the 200m final with a time of 19.66 seconds, becoming the first man to win three gold medals in the 200m at the World Championships.
As a cherry on top, Bolt anchored the Jamaican team to victory in the 4x100m relay, winning his third consecutive world relay gold medal.
2014 and 2015
After suffering an injury in 2014, Bolt missed several training sessions. However, when he returned to compete in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, he absolutely crushed it!
He won the 4x100m relay, setting a new Commonwealth Games record.
Proving that not even an injury can stop Bolt and his speed, in 2014 he set the indoor 100m world record with a time of 9.98 seconds.
In the next year, Bolt won the 100m and 200m at the World Championships in Beijing, becoming the first man to win three 100m titles at the World Championships and four 200m titles.
He also won the gold medal in the 4x100m relay, completing the "triple-triple" by winning three gold medals in three consecutive Olympic Games and World Championships.
2016
In 2016, Usain Bolt continued to absolutely dominate the Olympics: Bolt won the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at the Rio Olympics, securing his status as the greatest sprinter of all-time.
He became the first athlete to win the 100m and 200m three times at the Olympic Games. He went into the history books, as he finished his Olympic career with a 100% win record in the finals.
2017
In 2017, Bolt’s luck seemed to run out. Despite his speed, Bolt ended up winning the bronze medal in the 100m at the World Championships in London, ending his streak of consecutive wins in major championships.
He won a silver medal in the 4x100m relay but pulled up with a hamstring injury during the race, and decided it was time to retire.
His life was as remarkable as his career, filled with ups and downs that were as inspiring as his performance on the tracks.
Bolt managed to win eight gold medals just in the Olympics, with many more medals in other championships.
He won 23 gold medals in total, including:
Six for 100m
10 for 200m
Seven for 4 x 100m relay
He also won five silver medals:
One for 200m
Three for 4 x 100m relay
One for 4 x 400m
He won one bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships.
His remarkable achievements go beyond anything the world has ever seen!
He’s claimed 19 Guinness World Records. He also holds the second-highest number of accumulative Guinness World Records for a total number of accomplishments and victories in sports after Michael Phelps.
What a legend!
2. Carl Lewis
He won gold in the 100m and 200m at the 1984 Olympics
He won gold in the 100m race at the 1991 World Championships
World-record long-jumper
Frederick Carlton Lewis is our second legend of the track and field world.
Even though we could have placed some more recent track record setters in second place, we decided to honour Lewis, as there was a long period when he was on top of the athletic world.
Carl Lewis’s Early Life
Lewis’s parents ran a local athletics club that influenced him and his siblings.
Sporting talent appears to run in the family, as his older brother played professional soccer for the Memphis Rogues, and his sister became an elite long jumper.
Lewis himself began his journey by being coached by his father, but it wasn’t until he was coached by Andy Dudek and Paul Minore that he began competing in the long jump and emerged as a prominent athlete.
Even though he had plenty of opportunities, with many colleges eager to recruit him, he chose to enrol at the University of Houston and work closely with Tom Tellez, who was Lewis's coach for his entire career.
Notable Achievements
Throughout his career, he won a remarkable total of nine Olympic gold medals, four of which were in the long jump event.
Lewis showcased his dominance in the long jump by successfully defending his Olympic title in four consecutive Games from 1984 to 1996, a feat unmatched by any other athlete.
In addition to his long jump success, Lewis also displayed his exceptional sprinting abilities. He won gold in the 100m and 200m at the 1984 Olympics, and he earned multiple World Championship titles in both events.
Lewis set multiple world records throughout his career. He held the world record for the 100m event from January 1990 until June 1991, when it was broken by his teammate Leroy Burrell.
He also set a world record in the long jump event in 1984 and held it until 1991.
At the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo, Lewis achieved great success. He won the gold medal in the 100m race, setting a new world record with a time of 9.86 seconds. He also anchored the 4x100m relay team to a world record.
Lewis had a long jump showdown with Mike Powell at the 1991 World Championships, which is considered one of the greatest competitions in the history of the sport.
Although Lewis set a world record leap of 8.91m, Powell responded with a jump of 8.95m, surpassing Bob Beamon's longstanding record.
Lewis's significance in the world of track and field extends beyond his medal count. Lewis was honoured with several accolades, including being named "Sportsman of the Century" by the International Olympic Committee and "World Athlete of the Century" by the International Association of Athletics Federations.
He was also inducted into various sporting halls of fame. He was a trailblazer in athletics, setting world records and pushing the boundaries of human performance.
He held the world record for the 100m event from 1990 to 1991 and achieved a world record in the long jump in 1984.
His remarkable performances not only showcased his incredible talent but also inspired future generations of athletes to strive for greatness.
Lewis’s Sporting Legacy
He revolutionised the long jump with his technical prowess and consistently pushed the boundaries of what was believed to be possible.
His rivalry with fellow athletes, such as Mike Powell, produced some of the most memorable moments in track and field history, particularly their epic long jump showdown in 1991.
Even after retiring, he continued to work behind the scenes and offer his expertise both as a coach and as a film and television superstar.
3. Jesse Owens
He won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin
An icon in the sprinting world
He set five world records and tied a sixth in less than an hour
If we rank runners by medals, Michael Johnson would take third place on our list.
However, we chose to put the spotlight on Jesse Owens as he is one of the greatest athletes of all-time, and he is also an icon who forever changed the history of this sport.
His victories made a profound statement against racism and discrimination.
His impact extends to a broader context of social change that went beyond the boundaries of the sport, so we wanted to include him on our list. He truly made history!
Jesse Owens’s Early Life
Jesse was born on September 12, 1913, in Oakville, Alabama, and later moved to Cleveland, Ohio, with his family during the Great Migration.
Owens got into the sport of track and field during his youth and discovered his passion for running. He credited his junior high school track coach, Charles Riley, for encouraging and supporting his athletic career.
Notable Successes
Throughout his career, Owens achieved remarkable success and left an indelible mark on the sport of sprint.
His most notable achievement came during the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, where he won four gold medals.
Owens triumphed in the 100m, long jump, 200m and 4 × 100m relay events. His victories were significant not only for their athletic excellence but also for the way they challenged Hitler's Aryan supremacy ideology.
As a black American athlete competing in Nazi Germany, he represented a symbol of resilience and triumph over adversity - and he highlighted the important sporting contributions of diverse groups across the world.
Owens played a crucial role in social change by challenging racial barriers and defying stereotypes.
Owens's contributions to the world of sprinting and athletics were equally profound.
He set five world records and tied a sixth in less than an hour during the 1935 Big Ten track meet. This feat, often referred to as "the greatest 45 minutes ever in sport," remains unmatched.
His dominance in the 1936 Olympics solidified his place as one of the greatest and most famous athletes in track and field history.
Life After Sports
Despite his fame and success, Owens faced challenges and discrimination in his personal life.
He married Minnie Ruth Solomon in 1935, and they had three daughters together. However, Owens struggled to find stable employment after the Olympics, taking on various jobs to support his family.
He experienced financial difficulties, filed for bankruptcy and faced accusations of tax evasion.
Despite this, Owens continued to promote sports and physical exercise, working as a goodwill ambassador and endorsing various products.
His Legacy
Jesse Owens's legacy as a legend in sprinting is undeniable.
His dominance in the sport, his contributions to social change and his perseverance in the face of adversity have solidified his place as one of the most iconic figures in sports history.
Despite his untimely death from lung cancer on March 31, 1980, Owens's achievements continue to inspire generations and remind us of the power of determination and breaking barriers.
Who Are the Top Sprinting Legends in History?
The greatest sprinters in history have not only revolutionised the sport of athletics but also left a big impact on the societies in which they lived.
Jesse Owens shattered racial barriers and defied Nazi ideology, Usain Bolt's lightning speed captivated the world and propelled Jamaica's national pride, while Carl Lewis's incredible performances showcased the power of perseverance and excellence.
These extraordinary athletes changed the game and became catalysts for social change, inspiring generations to push beyond limits and break down barriers of discrimination and inequality.
Who would you add to our list? Who are your favourite athletes from across the world? Let us know in the comments!
