World’s Fastest Men in Olympics

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt took the title of “World’s Fastest Man” Saturday by breaking the world record in the 100 meter sprint at the Beijing Olympics in 9.69 seconds. Up until then, the world record - 9.72 seconds ­- was also held by Bolt.

Bolt followed that feat by winning the 200 meters in 19.30 seconds, becoming the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to sweep the 100 and 200 gold medals at an Olympics.

There have been 19 men claiming the title “world’s fastest” in Olympic competitions for the last 96 years. The New York Times has that list, and lots of other world records for Olympic sporting events as well.

Those men are:

9.69 seconds, Usain Bolt, August 2008

9.72, Usain Bolt, May 2008

9.74, Asafa Powell of Jamaica, September, 2007

9.77, Asafe Powell, June 2005

9.79, Maurice Green of the U.S., June 1999

9.84, Donovan Bailey of Canada, July 1996

9.85, Leroy Burrell of the U.S., July 1994

9.86, Carl Lewis of the U.S., August 1991

9.9, Leroy Burrell, June 1991

9.92, Carl Lewis, September 1988

9.93, Calvin Smith of the U.S., July 1883

9.95, Jim Hines of the U.S., October, 1968

9.9, Jim Hines, June 1968

10.0, Armin Hary of Germany, June 1960

10.10, Willie Williams of the U.S., August 1956

10.20, Jesse Owens of the U.S., June 1936

10.30, Percy Williams of Canada, August 1930

10.40, Charles Paddock of the U.S., April 1921