Justin Gatlin is one of the fastest sprinters the world has ever seen, with a 2015 100m sprint time of 9.74 seconds leaving him as the fifth-fastest human being in history, with plenty enviable of such a time.
He registered that at a Diamond League meeting, although he has gone quicker than that, registering the fastest time ever just a year later in 2016, but of course, there is a catch.
Usain Bolt’s 100m world record of 9.58 seconds is still the official benchmark, with many trying, and failing to surpass the great man’s time, some would think it will never be broken, but who knows what the future holds?
Just Gatlin breaks Usain Bolt’s 100m world record
In 2016, Gatlin broke Bolt’s world record, although it was an experimental sprint with a bit of aid, so the time isn’t officially recognised, and rightly so. However, that doesn’t mean the American can’t be proud of his time, completing the 100m sprint in 9.45 seconds.
Yes, that is seriously impressive, but he did have the helping hand by gargantuan wind turbines when performing the stunt for Japanese television, dwarfing Bolt’s 2009 time.
He got a huge boost off of the starting blocks from said turbine, before being assisted a few times down the track by a smattering of smaller fans to become the fastest man in history by 0.13 seconds, although the asterisk with that will be as big as that turbine! The fact Bolt’s time was narrowly beaten with such aids shows just how dominant he was in the sprinting scene.
Video: Justin Gatlin breaks 100m world record Usain Bolt set
Usain Bolt’s 100m record is breakable
Many believe that Bolt’s record time from 2009 is unbreakable, however, that is not the case. No, that’s genuine too, not with wind turbines helping you, but a sub-nine second time can be registered in the 100m.
I know what you’re thinking, surely not? Well scientists Polly McGuigan and Aki Salo believe that a time below nine seconds in the 100m sprint is within the realms of possibility, conducting a study and releasing their findings which make fascinating reading.
They concluded: “A combination of genetics and training would need to produce bum, thigh and calf muscles which are a little bit stronger and faster than the current best sprinters.” So basically, it isn’t currently possible, although the scope is there for the right athlete to break into the eight second times, although it could be a while off!