Fastest Runners in the World 2024: The fastest runners in the world are some of the most skilled and talented athletes in the world. These runners are capable of reaching incredible speeds and covering distances quickly and efficiently. Many of the fastest runners specialize in sprinting events such as the 100-meter and 200-meter dash, while others excel in longer-distance events such as the marathon.
These runners are often able to set world records and win medals at the highest levels of competition due to their speed, endurance, and mental toughness. Some of the fastest runners in the world include Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay, and Yohan Blake, who have all achieved great success in their respective events and set numerous world records.
Fastest Runners in the World 2024
There are several factors that can influence the speed of a runner, including genetics, training, and technique. Here are some of the fastest runners in the world, based on their personal best times in various distances:
20. Carl Lewis
- Olympic Medals: 5 Gold and 1 Silver
- Games Participations: 4
- First Olympic Games: Los Angeles 1984
- Year of Birth: 1961
Carl Lewis used to run and jump a lot, and he was very good at it. People think he’s one of the best Olympic athletes ever because he won nine gold medals in the Olympics and eight gold medals in other big competitions. He was the only man who won the same running event four times in a row at the Olympics.
He was also part of the United States team that broke the world record for the 4×100-meter relay at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. Besides running, he was really good at jumping far too. He won four gold medals in that event in other big competitions.
| Team USA | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Barcelona 1992 | Gold | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| Seoul 1988 | Gold | Men’s 100m |
| – | Gold | Men’s 200m |
| Los Angeles 1984 | Gold | Men’s 100m |
| – | Gold | Men’s 200m |
| – | Gold | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
20. Frankie Fredericks
- Olympic Medals: 4 Silver
- Games Participations: 3
- First Olympic Games: Barcelona 1992
- Year of Birth: 1967
Frank Fredericks is a retired athlete from Namibia who was really good at running very fast. He won a lot of medals in big competitions like the Olympics, World Championships, and African Championships.
He was born in Windhoek, Namibia, and started his career as a runner and jumper. He won his first Olympic medal in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics where he came second in the 200-meter race. After that, he won three more silver medals in the 100-meter and 200-meter races in the 1992, and 1996, Olympic Games. Fredericks was also really good at long jumping, and he won silver medals at the 1995 and 1997 World Championships.
| Team NAM | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Athens 2004 | #4 | Men’s 100m |
| – | #4 | Men’s 200m |
| Atlanta 1996 | Silver | Men’s 100m |
| – | Silver | Men’s 200m |
| Barcelona 1992 | Silver | Men’s 100m |
| – | Silver | Men’s 200m |
20. Ato Boldon
- Olympic Medals: 1 Silver 3 Bronze
- Games Participations: 4
- First Olympic Games: Barcelona 1992
- Year of Birth: 1973
Ato Boldon is a retired athlete from Trinidad who was really good at running fast in short distances. He won many medals in big competitions like the Olympics, World Championships, and Commonwealth Games.
He was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and Tobago, and started his career as a sprinter. He won his first Olympic medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics where he came second in the 200-meter race. Then he won three more Olympic medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, including a Silver medal in the 200-meter race.
| Team TTO | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Athens 2004 | #4 | Men’s 100m |
| – | #7 | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| Sydney 2000 | Silver | Men’s 100m |
| – | Bronze | Men’s 200m |
| – | #6 | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| Atlanta 1996 | Bronze | Men’s 100m |
| – | Bronze | Men’s 200m |
| Barcelona 1992 | #4 | Men’s 100m |
| – | #5 | Men’s 200m |
20. Francis Obikwelu
- Olympic Medals: 1 Silver
- Games Participations: 4
- First Olympic Games: Atlanta 1996
- Year of Birth: 1978
Francis Obikwelu is a retired Nigerian track and field athlete who competed internationally for Portugal. He is a one-time Olympic medalist and has won numerous medals at the European Championships and World Championships.
Obikwelu was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and began his athletic career as a sprinter. He won his first Olympic medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, where he finished second in the 100-meter dash. He went on to win another Olympic medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he finished 6th in the 100-meter event.
| Team POR | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing 2008 | #6 | Men’s 100m |
| – | DNS | Men’s 200m |
| Athens 2004 | Silver | Men’s 100m |
| #5 | Men’s 200m |
| Team NGR | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney 2000 | #7 | Men’s 200m |
| – | #5 | Men’s 200m |
| Atlanta 1996 | n/a | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
19. Marvin Bracy
- Olympic Medals: n/a
- Games Participations: 1
- First Olympic Games: Rio 2016
- Year of Birth: 1993
Marvin Bracy is an American track and field athlete who specializes in sprint events. He is a former world junior champion in the 100-meter dash and has won multiple medals at the national and international level. Bracy attended Florida State University, where he was a member of the track and field team and earned All-American honors.
He has also competed professionally and has broken several personal records throughout his career. Bracy has been featured in numerous media outlets and has been recognized as one of the top sprinters in the United States.
| Team USA | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Rio 2016 | #6 | Men’s 100m |
18. Leroy Burrell
- Olympic Medals: n/a
- Games Participations: 1
- First Olympic Games: Barcelona 1992
- Year of Birth: 1967
Leroy Burrell is a former American track and field athlete who is widely regarded as one of the fastest runners in history. He set the world record in the 100-meter dash in 1991, with a time of 9.85 seconds, and held the record until 1999.
Burrell was a dominant force in the 100-meter and 200-meter events throughout the 1990s, winning numerous national and international titles and setting numerous world records. He was also a member of the gold medal-winning 4×100-meter relay team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
| Team USA | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Barcelona 1992 | Gold | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| – | #5 | Men’s 100m |
17. Akani Simbine
- Olympic Medals: n/a
- Games Participations: 2
- First Olympic Games: Rio 2016
- Year of Birth: 1993
Akani Simbine is a South African track and field athlete who specializes in the 100-meter and 200-meter events. He has consistently ranked among the fastest runners in the world and has won numerous national and international titles.
In 2016, he set the South African record in the 100-meter dash with a time of 9.84 seconds, making him the fourth-fastest South African in history and the eighth-fastest man in the world that year. He has also won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and the African Championships.
In addition to his success on the track, Simbine has also competed in the 200-meter event, setting a personal best of 19.90 seconds in 2019.
| Team RSA | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo 2020 | #4 | Men’s 100m |
| – | n/a | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| Rio 2016 | #5 | Men’s 100m |
16. Bruny Surin
- Olympic Medals: 1 Gold
- Games Participations: 3
- First Olympic Games: Seoul 1988
- Year of Birth: 1967
Bruny Surin is a former Canadian track and field athlete who is known for his success in the 100-meter dash. He represented Canada at the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics, winning a Gold medal in the Men’s 100m at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.
Surin was a dominant force in the 100-meter event throughout the 1990s, setting the Canadian record with a time of 9.84 seconds in 1999 and winning numerous national and international titles. He was also a member of the gold medal-winning 4×100-meter relay team at the 1995 World Championships in Athletics.
| Team CAN | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney 2000 | #8 | Men’s 100m |
| Atlanta 1996 | Gold | Men’s 100m |
| – | #5 | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| Barcelona 1992 | 4 | Men’s 100m |
| n/a | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
15. Donovan Bailey
- Olympic Medals: 2 G
- Games Participations: 2
- First Olympic Games: Atlanta 1996
- Year of Birth: 1967
Donovan Bailey is a former Canadian track and field athlete who is widely regarded as one of the fastest runners in history. He is best known for winning gold medals in the 100-meter and 4×100-meter relay events at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, setting a new world record in the 100-meter dash with a time of 9.84 seconds.
Bailey was a dominant force in the 100-meter event throughout the 1990s, winning numerous national and international titles and setting numerous world records. He was also a member of the Canadian team that set the world record in the 4×100-meter relay at the 1995 World Championships in Athletics.
| Team CAN | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney 2000 | #8 | Men’s 100m |
| Atlanta 1996 | Gold | Men’s 100m |
| – | Gold | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
14. Ronnie Baker
- Olympic Medals: n/a
- Games Participations: 1
- First Olympic Games: Tokyo 2020
- Year of Birth: 1993
Ronnie Baker is an American track and field athlete who specializes in the 100-meter dash. He has consistently ranked among the fastest runners in the world and has won numerous national and international titles.
In 2017, Baker set the American record in the indoor 60-meter dash with a time of 6.44 seconds, making him the second-fastest man in history in that event. He has also won gold medals at the World Indoor Championships and the Pan American Games. In addition to his success on the track, Baker has also competed in the 200-meter event, setting a personal best of 20.02 seconds in 2018.
| Team USA | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo 2020 | #5 | Men’s 100m |
| – | n/a | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
13. Su Bingtian
- Olympic Medals: n/a
- Games Participations: 3
- First Olympic Games: London 2012
- Year of Birth: 1989
Bingtian Su is a Chinese track and field athlete who specializes in the 100-meter dash. He has consistently ranked among the fastest runners in the world and has won numerous national and international titles. In 2019, Su set the Asian record in the 100-meter dash with a time of 9.83 seconds, making him the second-fastest Asian in history.
He has also won gold medals at the Asian Games and the Asian Championships. In addition to his success on the track, Su has also competed in the 100-meter event, setting a personal best of 9.83 seconds in 2021.
| Team CHN | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo 2020 | #4 | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| – | #6 | Men’s 100m |
| Rio 2016 | #4 | Men’s 100m |
| – | #4 | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| London 2012 | #8 | Men’s 100m |
| – | #5 | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
12. Richard Thompson
- Olympic Medals: 1 Gold and 2 Silver
- Games Participations: 4
- First Olympic Games: Beijing 2008
- Year of Birth: 1985
Richard Thompson is a former track and field athlete from Trinidad and Tobago who specialized in the 100-meter and 200-meter events. He has consistently ranked among the fastest runners in the world and has won numerous national and international titles.
In 2012, Thompson won the silver medal in the Men’s 4 x 100m Relay event at the Olympic Games in London, finishing just 0.01 seconds behind the gold medalist. He has also won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and the Pan American Games and has set national records in both the 100-meter and 200-meter events.
| Team TTO | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo 2020 | n/a | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| Rio 2016 | #6 | Men’s 100m |
| – | n/a | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| London 2012 | #6 | Men’s 100m |
| Silver | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay | |
| Beijing 2008 | Silver | Men’s 100m |
| – | Gold | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
11. Steve Mullings
- Olympic Medals: n/a
- Games Participations: n/a
- First Olympic Games: n/a
- Year of Birth: 1982
Steve Mullings is a former Jamaican track and field athlete who specialized in the 100-meter and 200-meter events. He was a member of the Jamaican team that won the gold medal in the 4×100-meter relay at the 2009 in Berlin, and he has also won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games and the Pan American Games.
In addition to his success on the track, Mullings has also set national records in both the 100-meter and 200-meter events. However, Mullings’ career has been marred by doping scandals. He was banned from competition for two years in 2011 after testing positive for a banned substance, and he was banned for life in 2013 after testing positive for a different banned substance.
| Team JAM | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Berlin | Gold | 4×100 m relay |
| 2007 Osaka | Silver | 4×100 m relay |
10. Maurice Greene
- Olympic Medals: 2 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze
- Games Participations: 2
- First Olympic Games: Sydney 2000
- Year of Birth: 1974
Maurice Greene is a retired American track and field athlete who is widely regarded as one of the fastest runners in history. He specialized in the 100-meter and 200-meter events and was a dominant force in the 100-meter event throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. Greene set the world record in the 100-meter dash in 1999, with a time of 9.79 seconds, and held the record until 2005.
He won gold medals in the 100-meter event at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney and the 1999 and 2001 World Championships in Athletics, and he was also a member of the gold medal-winning 4×100-meter relay team at the 2000 Games.
| Team USA | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Athens 2004 | Bronze | Men’s 100m |
| – | Silver | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| Sydney 2000 | Gold | Men’s 100m |
| – | Gold | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
9. Nesta Carter
- Olympic Medals: 1 Gold
- Games Participations: 2
- First Olympic Games: Beijing 2008
- Year of Birth: 1985
Nesta Carter is a Jamaican track and field athlete who specialized in the 100-meter dash. He has consistently ranked among the fastest runners in the world and has won numerous national and international titles. Carter has had particular success in the 4×100-meter relay event, winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games.
He has also won gold medals in the 100-meter event at the World Championships and the Commonwealth Games and has set national records in both the 100-meter and 200-meter events. Carter’s career has been overshadowed by a doping scandal, however. In 2017, he was disqualified from the 2008 Olympic Games after a re-analysis of his doping sample from those Games revealed the presence of a banned substance.
| Team JAM | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| London 2012 | Gold | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| Beijing 2008 | DSQ | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
8. Fred Kerley
- Olympic Medals: 1 Silver
- Games Participations: 1
- First Olympic Games: Tokyo 2020
- Year of Birth: 1995
Fred Kerley is an American track and field athlete who specializes in the 400-meter event. He has consistently ranked among the fastest runners in the world in that event and has won numerous national and international titles.
In 2019, Kerley set the American record in the 400-meter event with a time of 43.64 seconds, making him the fastest man in history in that event. He has also won gold medals at the World Championships and the Pan American Games and has set national records in both indoor and outdoor 400-meter events.
| Team USA | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Rio 2016 | Silver | Men’s 100m |
| – | n/a | Men’s 200m |
| – | n/a | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
7. Trayvon Bromell
- Olympic Medals: n/a
- Games Participations: 2
- First Olympic Games: Rio 2016
- Year of Birth: 1995
Trayvon Bromell is an American track and field athlete who specialized in the 100-meter dash. He had a successful collegiate career at Baylor University, where he won numerous national titles and set several school records.
Bromell turned professional in 2015 and has consistently ranked among the fastest runners in the world. In 2023, he set the American record in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.42 seconds. He has also won gold medals at the World Junior Championships and the Pan American Games, and has set national records in both the 100-meter and 200-meter events.
| Team USA | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo 2020 | n/a | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| – | n/a | Men’s 100m |
| Rio 2016 | #8 | Men’s 100m |
| – | n/a | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
6. Christian Coleman
- Olympic Medals: n/a
- Games Participations: 1
- First Olympic Games: Rio 2016
- Year of Birth: 1996
Christian Coleman is an American track and field athlete who specializes in the 100-meter dash. He has consistently ranked among the fastest runners in the world and has won numerous national and international titles.
In 2019, Coleman set the American record in the 100-meter dash with a time of 9.76 seconds. He has also won gold medals at the World Championships and the Pan American Games. In addition to his success on the track, Coleman has also been involved in various charitable and philanthropic endeavors, including the Christian Coleman Foundation, which supports education and sports programs for young people in the United States.
| Team USA | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Rio 2016 | n/a | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
5. Justin Gatlin
- Olympic Medals: 1 Gold, 2 Silver 2 Bronze
- Games Participations: 3
- First Olympic Games: Athens 2004
- Year of Birth: 1982
Justin Gatlin is an American track and field athlete who specialized in the 100-meter dash. Gatlin is a five-time Olympic medalist, winning the Silver medal in the 100-meter event at the Rio Olympics, the Bronze at the 2012 Games in London, and the gold Bronze and Silver at the Athens 2004.
He has also won gold medals at the World Championships and the Pan American Games, and has set national records in both the 100-meter and 200-meter events. Gatlin’s career has been overshadowed by doping scandals, however. He was banned from competition for four years in 2006 after testing positive for a banned substance, and he received another ban in 2016 for testing positive for a different banned substance.
| Team USA | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Rio 2016 | Silver | Men’s 100m |
| – | #3 | Men’s 200m |
| – | n/a | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| London 2012 | Bronze | Men’s 100m |
| – | DSQ | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| Athens 2004 | Gold | Men’s 100m |
| – | Bronze | Men’s 200m |
| – | Silver | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
4. Asafa Powell
- Olympic Medals: 1 Gold
- Games Participations: 4
- First Olympic Games: Athens 2004
- Year of Birth: 1982
Asafa Powell is a retired Jamaican sprinter who is widely regarded as one of the greatest 100-meter runners of all time. He holds the record for the most sub-10 second runs in the 100-meter event, with 97 sub-10 second runs to his name. Powell was born on November 23, 1982, in Spanish Town, Jamaica. He began competing internationally in 2002 and quickly gained recognition for his speed and athleticism.
Powell won numerous medals at international competitions, including three gold medals at the IAAF World Championships and a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. In addition to his success on the track, Powell also set the world record for the 100-meter event, with a time of 9.72 seconds in 2008. He retired from competitive running in 2017 and is now a coach and motivational speaker.
| Team JAM | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Rio 2016 | Gold | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| London 2012 | #7 | Men’s 100m |
| Beijing 2008 | #5 | Men’s 100m |
| – | DSQ | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| Athens 2004 | #5 | Men’s 100m |
| – | #4 | Men’s 200m |
3. Yohan Blake
- Olympic Medals: 2 Gold and 2 Silver
- Games Participations: 3
- First Olympic Games: London 2012
- Year of Birth: 1989
Yohan Blake is a Jamaican sprinter who is considered one of the top 100-meter runners in the world. He was born on December 26, 1989 in Kingston, Jamaica and began competing in track and field at a young age. Blake is a two-time Olympic medalist, having won gold in the 4×100-meter relay at the 2012 London Olympics and silver in the 100-meter event at the 2012 London Olympics.
In addition to his success in international competitions, Blake has set a number of national records and has won numerous medals at national and regional competitions. He is known for his explosive start and strong finish in races, and is often referred to as “The Beast” due to his powerful running style.
| Team JAM | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo 2020 | n/a | Men’s 100m |
| – | n/a | Men’s 200m |
| – | #5 | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| Rio 2016 | #4 | Men’s 100m |
| #6 | Men’s 200m | |
| Gold | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay | |
| London 2012 | Silver | Men’s 100m |
| Silver | Men’s 200m | |
| Gold | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
2. Tyson Gay
- Olympic Medals: n/a
- Games Participations: 3
- First Olympic Games: Beijing 2008
- Year of Birth: 1982
Tyson Gay is a retired American sprinter who is considered one of the fastest runners in the world. He was born on August 9, 1982, in Lexington, Kentucky and began competing in track and field at a young age. He is also a four-time gold medalist at the IAAF World Championships, winning gold in the 100-meter event in 2007 and in the 4×100-meter relay in 2007, 2009, and 2011.
In addition to his success in international competition, Gay has set a number of national records and has won numerous medals at national and regional competitions. He is known for his quick start and strong finish in races, and is often referred to as one of the most well-rounded sprinters in the world.
| Team JAM | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Rio 2016 | n/a | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| London 2012 | DSQ | Men’s 100m |
| – | DSQ | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| Beijing 2008 | #5 | Men’s 100m |
| – | n/a | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
1. Usain Bolt
- Olympic Medals: 8 Gold
- Games Participations: 4
- First Olympic Games: Athens 2004
- Year of Birth: 1986
Usain Bolt is a retired Jamaican sprinter who is widely regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time. He was born on August 21, 1986 in Sherwood Content, Jamaica and began competing in track and field at a young age. Bolt is an eight-time Olympic gold medalist, having won gold in the 100-meter event and the 200-meter event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2012 London Olympics, and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
He is also an eleven-time world champion, having won gold in the 100-meter event and the 200-meter event at the IAAF World Championships in 2007, 2009, 2011, and 2015. In addition to his success in international competition, Bolt has set a number of world records and has won numerous medals at national and regional competitions. He is known for his lightning-fast speed and effortless stride, and is often referred to as the “fastest man in the world.” Bolt retired from competitive running in 2017.
| Team JAM | Result | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Rio 2016 | Gold | Men’s 100m |
| – | Gold | Men’s 200m |
| – | Gold | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| London 2012 | Gold | Men’s 100m |
| – | Gold | Men’s 200m |
| Gold | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay | |
| Beijing 2008 | Gold | Men’s 100m |
| – | Gold | Men’s 100m |
| – | DSQ | Men’s 4 x 100m Relay |
| Athens 2004 | #5 | Men’s 200m |