Paris 2024: When Scientists Analysed Whether Usain Bolt’s 100m Record Will Be Broken

Paris 2024: When Scientists Analysed Whether Usain Bolt’s 100m Record Will Be Broken

  • Usain Bolt ran an insane 9.58 seconds to set a new world record in the men's 100m during the 2009 World Championships in Germany
  • No other person has ever dipped below 9.6 seconds in the sprint races, making fans wonder whether the record will ever be broken
  • Ahead of the 100m final at the Paris Olympics, we revisit how analysts previously analysed the times posted by the Jamaican star

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Usain Bolt's world records will come under renewed focus when sprinters take to Stade de France for the 100m and 200m races in Paris.

World Champion Noah Lyles will lead a legion of medals hopefuls in the men's semi-final and subsequent final on August 3.

Noah Lyles, Paris 2024, Kishane Thompson, Usain Bolt.
Athletes compete during the men's 100m Round 1 at the 2034 Paris Olympics on August 3, 2024. Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu.
Source: Getty Images

The American has repeatedly mentioned that he wants to break the world records Bolt set in 2009. The 9.58 seconds and 19.19 seconds in the 100m and 200m have remained untouched since.

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Who will compete for 100m Olympic title?

Lyles will run in the event at the Paris Olympics on August 4 alongside Kishane Thompson, the fastest man in the world this year. Others include Ferdinand Omanyala, Letsile Tebogo, and reigning champion Marcel Jacobs.

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Only two other athletes, apart from Bolt, have ever run below 9.7 seconds, which raises the question of whether his record will ever be broken.

Can Usain Bolt's record ever be broken?

The Sports Biomechanics at the University of Bath conducted a study to determine if any current athlete could ever be faster than Bolt.

Scientists Polly McGuigan and Aki Salo believe a combination of genetics and training will one day see someone record a run of under 9 seconds.

Reactions to the video:

Here are of the responses to the video.

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Paris 2024: Simbine misses out on 100m medal at Olympics, sets new record

@ImSaran92:

"Unbreakable."

@X_Shorts_PD:

"Wow 9.58 seconds."

@LockFryer:

"Can anyone beat Usain?"

@itzmejeniii:

"Usain Bolt's 9.58 seconds 100m sprint world record from 2009 still stands strong! A true testament to speed and endurance."

@GrittyUrbanSaga:

"Bolt is right."

@babenataliemay:

"Usain Bolt is a legend! That 9.58 seconds record is insane."

@KittuUjjwal:

"Unbreakable record in 9.58."

Scientists Polly McGuigan and Aki Salo believe a combination of genetics and training will one day see someone record a run of under 9 seconds.

"A muscle with a high proportion of large, fast-twitch muscle fibres will be able to generate larger amounts of force more quickly than a muscle with a lower proportion. It's safe to say that someone will break the nine-second barrier - not necessarily in our lifetime, but it will happen one day," they said, as quoted by Give Me Sport in the 2022 study."

However, the scientists noted that the times will start to plateau at some point, and it will become difficult to break the record, but they still expressed optimism that the record will be broken one day.

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Paris 2024: Simbine through to Men’s 100m final, beating Olympic champion in semis

"It's safe to say that someone will break the nine-second barrier – not necessarily in our lifetime, but it will happen one day."

The fastest time in the world this year is 9.77 seconds, set by Thompson during the Jamaican trials.

Kayinsola Ajayi through to men's semi-final

Briefly News has also reported that Kayinsola Ajayi qualified for the men's semi-final.

Ajayi beat the reigning Olympic champion Jacobs in heat five in round 1 on Saturday morning.

He clocked 10.02 seconds, while Jacobs finished with 10.05 seconds.

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Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Justin Williams avatar

Justin Williams (Editor) Justin Williams is a multimedia journalist who recently completed his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Film & Multimedia Production and English Literary Studies from the University of Cape Town. He is a former writer and chief editor at Right for Education Africa: South African chapter. You can contact Justin at justin.williams@briefly.co.za