Over the past few decades the world has been mesmerised by the fastest men on earth. Athletes like Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Tyson Gay are renowned for their record-breaking performances on the track.
What is less recognised is that amongst this rare breed of sprinters is a young man from Kenya who has also smashed through the 10-second barrier over 100 metres.
To celebrate the sensational speed of the fast men, let’s take a look at the greatest sprinters of all-time and why Kenyan, Maurice Wasike deserves his place in the sun!
Usain Bolt: 9.58 Seconds
Image Source: sportsnet.ca
Jamaica’s Usain Bolt is considered the GOAT of the track. His dominance over 100 metres spanned three Olympic games, earned him countless honours and made him the highest paid athlete of all time.
Bolt burst onto the scene at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, setting a world record in the 100 m and 200 m dashes. He and his team mates also claimed gold in the 4 x 100 m men’s relay but were later disqualified.
In an incomparable display of extended form, the speedster collected a brace of medals at both the London and Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics held in 2012 and 2016, respectively.
At the peak of his career the man known as ‘Lightning Bolt’ banked around $33 million a year in prize money, sponsorships and appearances.
Although the 32-year old has hung up his running shoes, no other sprinter has challenged his blistering 9.58 second 100 m world record set in Berlin in 2009.
Tyson Gay: 9.69 Seconds
Image Source: sportsthenandnow.com
Tyson Gay is the second fastest man over 100 metres. The American raced into the record books at the 2009 Golden Grand Prix in Shanghai when he clocked 9.69 seconds.
He also won 100 metres gold at the Osaka World Championships, the Athens World Cup and the Thessaloniki World Athletics Finals. Gay’s personal best of 9.69 seconds has since been matched by Jamaican, Yohan Blake.
Although Gay is still regarded as one of the greatest sprinters of all time, his legacy was blemished when he was suspended from all competition after testing positive for a banned substance in 2013.
Yohan Blake: 9.69 Seconds
Image Source: independent.co.uk
Tipped by Usain Bolt as a future great, Yohan Blake enjoyed a stellar start to his career. The Jamaican, who counts Bolt among his training partners, turned heads after becoming the youngest ever 100 metre World Champion in 2011.
Blake followed up his auspicious start by matching Tyson Gay’s 9.69 second personal best at the annual ‘Athletissima’ event in Lausanne in 2012.
Although Blake showed great promise as an individual 100 metre sprinter, the 28-year-old has not quite lived up to expectations. He’s been more successful in the 4 x 100 metre relays.
Asafa Powell: 9.72 Seconds
Image Source: thenational.ae
With a top speed of 9.72 seconds over 100 metres, Asafa Powell is the fourth fastest sprinter of all-time … and a Jamaican to boot. He recorded his best-ever time at Lausanne in 2008.
At 190 metres in height, Powell’s speed out of the blocks and 2.6 metre stride has carried him to glory, predominantly in the 4 x 100 metre relays. Over his career Powell has won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the Beijing and Berlin World Championships and the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Maurice Wasike: 9.9 Seconds
Image Source: nation.co.ke
Maurice Wasike may not feature on the top 10 all-time list but he’s worthy of a mention. The sprinter became the first-ever Kenyan to break the 10-second barrier. He recorded his personal best of 9.9 seconds at the Kenya Defence Forces Athletics Championships in 2017!
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