100-meter run at the Olympic Games
The 100-meter run at the Olympic Games is the shortest sprint distance in this international sporting event. Traditionally, the respective Olympic champions in this discipline are considered to be the fastest people in the world. However, the World Athletics Championships that have been held since 1983 sometimes undercut these records.
Men
time | athlete | nation | year | round | date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
12.2 | Francis Lane | United States | 1896 | Forward 1 | April 6, 1896 |
12.2 | Thomas Curtis | United States | 1896 | Forward 2 | April 6, 1896 |
11.8 | Tom Burke | United States | 1896 | Forward 3 | April 6, 1896 |
11.4 | Arthur Duffey | United States | 1900 | Forward 1 | June 14, 1900 |
11.4 | Walter Tewksbury | United States | 1900 | Forward 2 | June 14, 1900 |
10.8 WR | Frank Jarvis | United States | 1900 | Forward 3 | June 14, 1900 |
10.8 WR | Walter Tewksbury | United States | 1900 | Semi-final 2 | June 14, 1900 |
10.8 | James Rector | United States | 1908 | Forward 15 | July 20, 1908 |
10.8 | Reggie Walker | South Africa | 1908 | Semi-final 1 | July 20, 1908 |
10.8 | James Rector | United States | 1908 | Semi-final 3 | July 20, 1908 |
10.8 | Reggie Walker | South Africa | 1908 | final | July 20, 1908 |
10.8 | David Jacobs | United Kingdom | 1912 | Forward 10 | July 6, 1912 |
10.6 | Donald Lippincott | United States | 1912 | Forward 16 | July 6, 1912 |
10.6 | Harold Abrahams | United Kingdom | 1924 | Quarter Finals 4 | July 6, 1924 |
10.6 | Harold Abrahams | United Kingdom | 1924 | Semi-final 2 | July 7, 1924 |
10.6 | Harold Abrahams | United Kingdom | 1924 | final | July 7, 1924 |
10.6 | Percy Williams | Canada | 1928 | Quarter Finals 4 | July 29, 1928 |
10.6 | Robert McAllister | United States | 1928 | Semi-final 1 | July 30, 1928 |
10.6 | Jack London | United States | 1928 | Semi-final 2 | July 30, 1928 |
10.6 | Arthur Jonath | Germany | 1932 | Forward 3 | July 31, 1932 |
10.4 | Eddie Tolan | United States | 1932 | Quarter finals 1 | July 31, 1932 |
10.3 WR | Eddie Tolan | United States | 1932 | final | August 1, 1932 |
10.3 | Jesse Owens | United States | 1936 | Forward 1 | August 2, 1936 |
10.3 | Harrison Dillard | United States | 1948 | final | July 31, 1948 |
10.3 | Bobby Joe Morrow | United States | 1956 | Quarter finals 1 | November 23, 1956 |
10.3 | Ira Murchison | United States | 1956 | Quarter finals 2 | November 23, 1956 |
10.3 | Bobby Joe Morrow | United States | 1956 | Semi-final 2 | November 24, 1956 |
10.2 | Armin Hary | BR Germany | 1960 | Quarter finals 2 | August 31, 1960 |
10.2 | Armin Hary | BR Germany | 1960 | final | August 31, 1960 |
10.0 WR | Bob Hayes | United States | 1964 | final | October 15, 1964 |
10.0 A | Hermes Ramirez | Cuba | 1968 | Quarter finals 2 | October 13, 1968 |
10.0 A | Charlie Greene | United States | 1968 | Quarter Finals 4 | October 13, 1968 |
10.0 A | Jim Hines | United States | 1968 | Semi-final 1 | October 14, 1968 |
9.9 A, WR | Jim Hines | United States | 1968 | final | October 14, 1968 |
9.92 * | Carl Lewis | United States | 1988 | final | September 24, 1988 |
9.84 | Donovan Bailey | Canada | 1996 | final | July 27, 1996 |
9.69 WR | Usain Bolt | Jamaica | 2008 | final | August 16, 2008 |
9.63 | Usain Bolt | Jamaica | 2012 | final | 5th August 2012 |
- Carl Lewis was actually only second in 1988 with 9.92 seconds, but Ben Johnson was disqualified.
Women
time | Athlete | nation | year | round | date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
13.0 | Anni Holdmann | Germany | 1928 | Forward 1 | July 30, 1928 |
12.8 | Erna Steinberg | Germany | 1928 | Forward 2 | July 30, 1928 |
12.8 | Kinue Hitomi | Japan | 1928 | Forward 3 | July 30, 1928 |
12.8 | Leni Junker | Germany | 1928 | Forward 4 | July 30, 1928 |
12.8 | Leni Schmidt | Germany | 1928 | Forward 6 | July 30, 1928 |
12.6 | Fanny Rosenfeld | Canada | 1928 | Forward 7 | July 30, 1928 |
12.6 | Ethel Smith | Canada | 1928 | Forward 9 | July 30, 1928 |
12.4 | Fanny Rosenfeld | Canada | 1928 | Semi-final 1 | July 30, 1928 |
12.4 | Betty Robinson | United States | 1928 | Semi-final 2 | July 30, 1928 |
12.2 WR | Betty Robinson | United States | 1928 | final | July 31, 1928 |
12.2 | Marie Dollinger | Germany | 1932 | Forward 1 | August 1, 1932 |
11.9 WR | Stanisława Walasiewicz | Poland | 1932 | Forward 2 | August 1, 1932 |
11.9 WR | Stanisława Walasiewicz | Poland | 1932 | Semi-final 2 | August 1, 1932 |
11.9 WR | Stanisława Walasiewicz | Poland | 1932 | final | August 2, 1932 |
11.9 | Fanny Blankers-Koen | Netherlands | 1948 | final | August 2, 1948 |
11.9 | Catherine Hardy | United States | 1952 | Forward 7 | July 21, 1952 |
11.6 | Marjorie Jackson | Australia | 1952 | Forward 8 | July 21, 1952 |
11.6 | Marjorie Jackson | Australia | 1952 | Quarter finals 1 | July 21, 1952 |
11.5 WR | Marjorie Jackson | Australia | 1952 | Quarter finals 1 | July 22, 1952 |
11.5 | Marlene Mathews | Australia | 1956 | Forward 2 | November 24, 1956 |
11.4 | Betty Cuthbert | Australia | 1956 | Forward 3 | November 24, 1956 |
11.3 WR | Wilma Rudolph | United States | 1960 | Semi-final 1 | 2nd September 1960 |
11.2 WR | Wyomia Tyus | United States | 1964 | Quarter finals 1 | October 15, 1964 |
11.2 A | Wyomia Tyus | United States | 1968 | Forward 1 | October 14, 1968 |
11.2 A | Margaret Bailes | United States | 1968 | Forward 2 | October 14, 1968 |
11.2 A | Barbara Ferrell | United States | 1968 | Forward 6 | October 14, 1968 |
11.1 A, WR | Barbara Ferrell | United States | 1968 | Quarter finals 1 | October 14, 1968 |
11.1 A, WR | Irena Szewińska | Poland | 1968 | Quarter Finals 4 | October 14, 1968 |
11.0 A, WR | Wyomia Tyus | United States | 1968 | final | 15th October 1968 |
07/11 WR | Renate Stecher | German Democratic Republic | 1972 | Quarter finals 1 | 1st September 1972 |
05/11 | Annegret Richter | BR Germany | 1976 | Quarter finals 1 | July 24, 1976 |
11.01 WR | Annegret Richter | BR Germany | 1976 | Semi-final 1 | July 25, 1976 |
10.97 | Evelyn Ashford | United States | 1984 | final | 5th August 1984 |
10.88 | Florence Griffith Joyner | United States | 1988 | Forward 7 | September 24, 1988 |
10.88 | Evelyn Ashford | United States | 1988 | Quarter finals 2 | September 24, 1988 |
10.62 | Florence Griffith Joyner | United States | 1988 | Quarter finals 3 | September 24, 1988 |
WR = world record