The World's Fastest Men: A look at 100m World Champions



Carl Lewis

Tamika Forrester

Since the inception of the IAAF's world championships back in 1983 the USA has been the most dominant in men's 100 metres. Of the 13 world championship finals to date, the USA has won this event an astonishing 8 times.

Let's take a step back in history. In 1983, 1987 and 1991, American Carl Lewis won three consecutive back to back 100m titles at the world's, a feat that rendered him almost "god-like" in the sport. The 1991 final is particularly memorable as Lewis ran the race of his life to set a new world record of 9.86sec, which was also his personal best . Lewis's reign in the sprints was so potent, many felt he only had to line-up to be declared the winner.

After the Carl Lewis era came Great Britain's turn at the helm. Having triumphed at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics the powerfully built Linford Christie, went on to win the 1993 world championships beating the USA into the unaccustomed 2nd place.

But by 1995 Britain's glory in the sprints had ended and Canada's had begun. In a final that saw the USA completely shut out of the medals, Donovan Bailey blasted out of the blocks to win in a time 9.95sec with his teammate Bruny Surin not far behind in second. Trinidad and Tobago's young sprinter Ato Boldon was third.

Maurice Green

In 1997 Maurice Green heralded the USA's return to the pinnacle of the 100 metres. For the next three world championships the American would dominate the event in much the same way Lewis did. Green is remembered for his outstanding sprint talent but also for his bravado and showboating which drove fear into many of his opponents.

By 2003 Kim Collins, a relatively unknown sprinter from St. Kitts and Nevis had arrived to claim the gold medal in a final where the top four athletes finished within 0.02 seconds of each other. But Collins' time was short, the USA returned to prominence with Justin Gatlin in 2005 and Tyson Gay in 2007.

Then came Jamaican Usain Bolt. Most of you already know what happened next but on the off chance this  is being read by a complete track novice, I'll just repeat it. After having unleashed a kind of sprinting never before seen by mankind at the Beijing Olympics, Bolt arrived in Berlin ready to make his mark on the world championships. He stunned the world by lowering his own 100m record to 9.58sec.



Usain Bolt


Following the brilliance of this man's performance much comparison is made between Bolt and Carl Lewis, some questioning who is greater. My answer; both are legends in their own right. Lewis's longevity at the helm of such a tough and demanding sport is mind blowing while Bolt's performances have taken the sport to new dizzying heights.
Of course It's too early to tell if Bolt's brilliance will be sustainable throughout the decade, Daegu will be his first test.





IAAF Men's 100m Winners

1983              Carl Lewis (USA)                       10.07
1987              Carl Lewis (USA)                       9.93
1991              Carl Lewis (USA)                       9.86
1993              Linford Christie (Great Britain)    9.87

1995              Donovan Bailey (Canada)           9.97

1997              Maurice Greene (USA)               9.86

1999              Maurice Greene (USA)               9.80
2001              Maurice Greene (USA)               9.82
2003              Kim Collins (St Kitts)                 10.07
2005              Justin Gatlin (USA)                      9.88
2007              Tyson Gay (USA)                       9.85
2009              Usain Bolt (JAM)                        9.58