If you know anything about track, you probably know Usain Bolt. He is commonly referred to as the greatest of all time of track, holding the world record for the men’s 100m, 200m, and 4x100m. He has won 8 gold medals in the Olympics, 3 Diamond League Championships, and 11 World Champion medals. His men’s 100m record is 9.58 which is 0.11 seconds faster than the second-fastest time and his 200m record is 19.19 which is 0.07 seconds faster than the second-fastest 200m. This shows how much he dominated his competition, but have you ever wondered which of his records are at risk?
We must start from the beginning.
Usain Bolt was born on August 21, 1986, in Sherwood Content, a small town in Jamaica. He grew up playing sports and did not run track seriously till middle school. From there, he continued improving until he went pro in 2004 and became the first junior athlete to run under 20 seconds in the 200m. Earlier in his career, Bolt ran the 400m and 200m but in 2007 suited up to run his first 100m and ran an astonishing 10.03. This ignited Usain Bolt’s journey to running the 100m, running the 100m a year later and improved his time from 10.03 to 9.76. During that time, 9.76 was the second-fastest time, just behind his fellow teammate Asafa Powell.
On May 31, 2008, Bolt ran 9.74, setting a new world record. Fast toward to the 2008 Olympics, Bolt breezed through his competition in the 100m and 200m. In the finals for the 100m, he ran a 9.69 where he could have run much faster if he had not slowed down to celebrate. Then a couple of days later, the track-star set a new 200m world record, running a 19.30. He continued. In 2009, Bolt ran a 9.58 breaking his record during the World Championships, and in the same championships, he ran a 19.18 200m.
Bolt continued to dominate and win gold medals at every meet until the 2017 World Championships. Nearing the end of his career, and during the 4x100m, he hurt his hamstring which ultimately ended it entirely. Although his final competing year ended in a tragedy, Bolt was cemented in track history and crowned with the unofficial title as the greatest of all time.
Now that we know about Bolt, his world records are still intact. However, the 2024 Olympics are coming very quickly, and some very fast athletes believe they can break Bolt’s record.
In my opinion, Bolt’s 100m record will stay intact for a very long time, as no one in recent history has even come close. However, his 200m record potentially could be broken soon. I believe there is one athlete who has a chance of breaking Usain’s record: Noah Lyles.
Lyles, an American sprinter participating in the 100m and 200m, holds personal record for the 200m at 19.31 –which is the third-fastest time of all time. Throughout the past year, Lyles has put up some obscene times, running 19.47 in London and 19.52 in the World Athletics Championship in Budapest.
Given his competition, I know Bolt will have to train extremely hard, as there are a couple of men who run similar times as him, like Erriyon Knighton and Letsile Tobogo. So, I believe 2024 will be his year as I think if he can train without getting injured he will very likely run faster than 19.18.
