Top 10 Fastest Runners In The World

September 29, 2021 By Sourav

A sprint is a short running race and one of the toughest tournaments in the world. Obtaining a position as one of the fastest runners in the most demanding competition is a miracle, you might say, the most significant victory of all time.

By performing our deep research, we gathered the fastest sprinters and ranked them according to their achievements. According to recent studies, the average person can run up to 19mph, but professional runners can run up to 27mph.

Yes! You heard it right. It will be more interesting to read about those giants who run like light and have speed in their veins. Let’s get in!

Fastest Runners | All-Time Ranking

10. Steven Mullings – Jamaica
9. Maurice Green – USA
8. Richard Thompson – Trinidad and Tobago
7. Nesta Carter – Jamaica
6. Asafa Powell – Jamaica
5. Justin Gatlin – USA
4. Christian Coleman – USA
3. Tyson Gay – USA
2. Yohan Blake – Jamaica
1. Usain Bolt – Jamaica

Don’t Miss:

• Fastest Runners – All-Time Infographics
• FAQs Regarding Fastest Sprinters

Sprinting or running is widely considered one of the most difficult sports of all time. Besides, it is also considered as one of the toughest endurance sports where an athlete always has to give the best performance. So, without further delay, let’s know about the fastest runners the world has ever seen.

10. Steven Mullings – Jamaica

Steve Mullings was a Jamaican sprinter specializing in 100- and 200-meters events and was given a lifetime doping ban in 2011. He is one of the fastest runners of all time. Furthermore, the Pan American Junior Championships marked Mullings’ international athletics debut, a bronze medal win in the 100 meters.

Mullings is widely considered one of the greatest multitalented athletes of all time. He got silver medals two times, first in Bridgetown 2001 and second in Osaka 2007. While participating in CAC Junior Championship, he won the gold medal in San Juan in 2000.

Furthermore, competing in World Championships in Athletics, he secured another gold medal in Berlin in 2009. He is in 10th position among the top ten Fastest Runners in the world. Mullings is well known for his personal best performances for sprinting 100m in just 9.80 seconds at Eugene, Oregon, the US, in 2011.

Besides, in 2009 he did it even better by covering 200m in 19.98 seconds in Berlin. Moreover, we can say that his primary source of income was his career as an athlete, but he didn’t go that far. According to our sources, his estimated net worth is $1 million.

9. Maurice Green – USA

Maurice Greene, an American sprinter who competed in the 100 and 200 meters, specializes in the 100 and 200 meters. With a time of 9.79 seconds, he was a former 100 m world record holder. He won three Olympic medals, three World Championships, and five Olympic medals during his peak.

It is he who holds the 9th position among the top 10 fastest runners in the world. On a different note, he is widely considered one of the most handsome athletes of all time due to his immense showmanship on the track.

Maurice won Athens Grand Prix Tsiklitiria for 100 m in 1999. While participating in IAAF Golden League, he won Golden Gala four times in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002. In that same year, Maurice also won Meeting de Paris two times for 100m and 200m.

Besides, his significant wins include his award for the third most sub-10-second runs in 100m, only surpassed by Asafa Powell. He got retired in 2008 and became an ambassador for the IAAF. Currently, he serves as a coach at the University of California LA for the 2012-2013 season. According to our analysis, his net worth is about $3 million.

8. Richard Thompson – Trinidad and Tobago

In eighth place, we ranked Richard among the top 10 fastest runners the world has ever seen. Trinidad and Tobago sprinter Richard “Torpedo” Thompson (born 7 June 1985) is known for his 100-meter sprints. During his heydays, he was known as one of the most marketable athletes.

During the 2014 season, his personal record made the top ten fastest time of all time with 9.82 seconds, setting a new national record. Several times a national champion, Thompson now holds the national record for Trinidad and Tobago.

In 2008, competing in the Olympics of Men’s athletes, he secured a gold medal in Beijing. Thompson won two more gold medals in NACAC Championship and CAC Championship in 2007-8. Besides, he won four silver and two bronze in his whole athletic career.

Moreover, in 2011 he participated in World Championships, got 6th and 10th position for 100 m sprint at Daegu, South Korea. Thompson won the finals at the national championship, becoming one of the fastest 100 m runners. Furthermore, his personal bests include his 100 m and 200 m sprint in 9.82 and 20.18 seconds. His estimated net worth is approximately $2 million.

7. Nesta Carter – Jamaica

A former Jamaican sprinter, Nesta Carter OD, specialized in the 100 meters. As part of the Jamaican 4 x 100 meters relay team, Carter won gold and set successive world records at the 2011 World Championships and 2012 London Olympics.

He got the 7th spot out of the top 10 fastest runners of all time. He is also among the first world-class sprinters to have a significant online presence. And now, he is widely considered one of the most popular athletes on social media.

In 2007, at the International Invitational meet, Carter finished joint- third and secured the first Grande Premio Brasil Caixa de Atletismo of IAAF event. Furthermore, Carter was honored with the Order of Distinction due to his colossal career accomplishments in 2008. Furthermore, in 2014 he won a Continental Cup for 4 100 meters relay in Marrakech, representing America.

Besides, Carter’s bests include his 1oo m in 9.78 seconds and 200 m sprint in 20.25 seconds at Italy and Jamaica. Carter was also outranked in 100 meters categories. His net income is about $5 million; he has made such wealth from his primary career as a sprinter.

6. Asafa Powell – Jamaica

One of the fastest runners ever, CD Asafa Powell specializes in the 100 meters and is a Jamaican sprinter. A time of 9.77 seconds and 9.74 seconds was his world record between June 2005 and May 2008.

In the top 10 fastest runners of all time, he deserved 6th place. On a different note, he is widely regarded as one of the tallest athletes of all time. Besides, he also has an excellent physique to compliment it further.

While competing in Olympic Games, he secured a gold medal in Rio de Janeiro for a 4 100 m relay. Furthermore, in 2006 participating in Commonwealth Games, he won two more gold medals for 100 m in Melbourne. Moreover, Powell won Diamond League two times in 2011 and 2016 for 100 meters sprint.

Moreover, Powell was successful at the World Athletics Final, winning five gold medals with one silver medal. He is also a two times holder of bronze medals, which he got at the World Championship in Osaka and Berlin. Besides, his personal bests are 100 m sprint in 9.72 s, 200 m sprint in 19.90 s, 400 m sprint in 45.94 s in 2006, and 2008-9. According to our sources, Asafa Powell’s net worth is around $8 million.

5. Justin Gatlin – USA

Justin has been ranked fifth out of the top 10 fastest runners of all time. A sprinter from the United States, Justin Gatlin competes in the 60 meters, 100 meters, and 200-meter events. The 12-time World Champion has won 5 Olympic medals and 5 World Championship medals.

Justin’s career achievements include his three Diamond League wins, which he won consecutively from 2013-15. Furthermore, he secured two gold medals while competing in World Athletics Relays in 2015 and 2017 at Nassau.

In Justin’s first indoor season, as a professional sprinter, he won two more gold medals for 60 m in 6.45 seconds. Moreover, after completing a 100 m sprint in just 9.45 seconds, he is regarded as the world’s first fastest man after Bolt. Besides, he was also one of the highest-paid athletes of his time.

Therefore, Justin put his retirement on hold and was determined to settle for third in season-closing 100 m in the World Athletics Continental tour meet. Besides, his net worth is approximately $4 million.

4. Christian Coleman – USA

Professional sprinter Christian Coleman competes in both the 100m and 200m distances. Currently, he holds the world record in the 100-meter race. As part of the 2017 World Athletics Championships, he won silver medals in the 100-meter race and the 4x100-meter relay.

He is widely dubbed as one of the most respected athletes of all time. Competing in the 2019 World Championships, Christian won two gold medals for 100 m and a 4×100 m relay in Doha.

Furthermore, he was successful at World Indoor Championship, securing a gold medal for 60 m in Birmingham. Furthermore, in 2018 Christian also won Diamond League for 100 m sprints. Moreover, Christian holds a personal record for a 200 m sprint in 19.85 seconds.

Currently, he is banned until 2022 because of drug tests, and he won’t be able to play in the Summer Olympics of 2021. Besides, Christian is one of the wealthiest Runners having a net worth of about $35 million.

3. Tyson Gay – USA

A sprinter from the United States, Tyson Gay is the fastest marathon runner in the world who competes in the 100 and 200 meters. His 100-meter personal best of 9.69 seconds is the American record, making him second in history behind Yohan Blake.

He now got 3rd spot out of the top 10 fastest runners of all time. Talking about his achievement in the field of sprinting, he is one of the most successful Olympic athletes of all time.

Representing the US, Gay played in Men’s Athletics World Championship and secured two gold medals in 2007 in Osaka. And then he won a silver medal too in 2009 while competing in World Championship in Berlin. Furthermore, in the Athens World Cup competitions of 2006, he achieved the gold medals twice.

Gay is also the winner of the Diamond League Final of Brussels 2010. Moreover, while playing for the 2010 Continental Cup, he got a gold medal for the 4×100 m relays. Considering his career wins, we can see that he is one of few players who have won such a large number of gold medals. Besides, he has made most of his wealth with this career as a runner; his estimated net worth is $15 million.

2. Yohan Blake – Jamaica

Yohan came in 2nd among the world’s top ten fastest runners. Mr. Blake is a sprinter from Jamaica who specializes in the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints. He is widely dubbed one of the greatest Jamaican athletes of all time.

In 2011, he won gold at the 100 m at the World Athletics Championships, becoming the youngest world champion in 100 m history. While competing in Pan American Junior Championship, he won a silver medal and a bronze medal in 2007.

In 2018, Blake participated in Continental Cup and secured a gold medal for the 4×100 relay in Ostrava. He further added two more world relays gold medals to his achievements in the 2014 Bahamas competition.

Moreover, Blake is the fastest distance runner in the world; he was successful in the CARIFTA Games, winning five gold medals in 2006-8 for 100 m, 200 m, and 4×100 relay. His significant wins also include two bronze medals at the Commonwealth Games of 2018. He is not just among the highest-paid athletes of all time, but his net worth is approximately $90 million.

1. Usain Bolt – Jamaica

In 1st place, we have ranked Usain Bolt out of the top 10 fastest runners of all time. Former Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has been dubbed the greatest male sprinter in history. He holds several records as a world record holder in the 100-meter race, 200-meter race, and 4x 100-meter relay races.

Participating in World Championships, Bolt won 12 gold medals, and this is not an ordinary achievement. His major wins include his 2002 victory at CAC Junior Championships when he won four gold medals in one year for 200 m, 400 m, and 4×400 m relay.

However, he also competed in CARIFTA Games and added seven more gold medals to his glistening career. In the 2006 Athens World Cup competition, he won a silver medal for 200 m sprints.

Bolt is regarded as the only sprinter who won the Olympic 100 m and 200 m titles at three consecutive Olympics competitions. Besides, Bolt is the richest and one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, having a net wealth of $90 million.

Also Read: Unknown Facts About Usain Bolt

Conclusion

Running like light is undoubtedly one of the fantastic skills an athlete could have. As you have gone through the top 10 fastest runners of all time while reading the ranking, please let us know via writing a comment in the comment box below if you think we have some other deserving sprint.

Fastest Runners – All-Time Infographics

FAQs Regarding Fastest Sprinters

Q. Who is the fastest runner in the Olympics?

In full Usain St. Leo Bolt, the Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is the fastest runner in the Olympics. They won gold medals at three straight Olympic Games and were widely regarded as the most successful sprinter of all time.

Q. Who is the second-fastest runner in the Olympics?

Thompson-Herah is widely dubbed as the fastest female sprinter and the second-fastest sprinter in the combined category. For the second time in a row, she has completed a 100-200-meter double at the Olympics, surprising even herself at Hayward Field. The Jamaicans repeated their podium sweep in Tokyo, with Shericka Jackson ranking third.

Q. Who is the fastest runner in the World?

The fastest 100m time in history was achieved by Bolt in 2009 at the World Championships when he ran 9.58 seconds. Tyson Gay and Yohan Blake have recorded times of 9.69, which is one-tenth of a second faster than that record.

Q. What tribe has the world's fastest runners?

Runners trained in Kenya's Ngong in 2012. For decades, the country has produced the best distance runners in the World, and the vast majority are Kalenjin.