The fastest men in the world (all time)

Currently the fastest man in recorded human history, Usain Bolt rose to prominence at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, when he broke the world record in the finals of the 100-meter sprint. The Jamaican-born runner would then go on to break his own record the following year, at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, when he won the event in a jaw-dropping 9.58 seconds. Bolt has a total of six Olympic gold medals and is looking to earn a few more in Rio.

Tyson Gay is the fastest American ever to run in the 100 and 200 track events. Gay ran the 100 in 9.69 seconds in 2009 and has experienced Olympics success, but he had his silver medal victory at the 2012 London Olympics in the 4x100 relay stripped from him due to a failed drug test. The sprinter from Lexington, Ky., is surely looking for redemption in Rio.

One of Usain Bolt’s training partners, Yohan Blake could stake his claim as the fastest man in the world later this month in Rio. The 26-year-old sprinter has run the 100 in 9.69 seconds and won an Olympic gold medal in the 4x100 relay in London. Blake is scheduled to run in both the 100 and 200 events and could come away with gold medals from both competitions.

From June 2005 through May 2008, Asafa Powell owned the world record in the 100-meter sprint. However, his current personal best of 9.72 seconds is only good enough for fourth best all time. The 33-year-old Jamaican is set to compete in the 4x100 relay later this month, in what in all likelihood will be his final Olympic competition.

Justin Gatlin became a household name after his performance in the 2004 Olympics in Athens when he came away with three medals, including the gold in the 100-meter dash. Since then, however, Gatlin’s career has been a mixed bag. The Brooklyn-born sprinter was banned from competitive track and field events for four years in 2007 due to a number of failed drug tests and also made a brief attempt to make it as an NFL player. Still, Gatlin has made a successful comeback to the sport, setting a personal best in the 100 in 2015, running the sprint in 9.74 seconds.

A two-time Olympic gold medalist, Nesta Carter’s personal best of 9.78 seconds in the 100-meter sprint makes him the sixth fastest man of all time. Standing almost a foot shorter than his fellow Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, Carter will not be competing at the 2016 Games in Rio due a failed drug test.

One of the most decorated American sprinters of all time, Maurice Greene dominated the 100-meter dash at the turn of the millennium. A four-time Olympic medalist, Greene set a personal best (and then world record) in the event when he ran it in 9.79 seconds in 1999. In total, Greene had a total of 51 sub-10-second runs in the event, second only to Asafa Powell.

Although he has never participated in an Olympics, Jamaican sprinter Steve Mullings can at the very least say his is one the 10 fastest men ever. Mullings ran the 100-meter dash in 9.80 seconds in 2011 at a competition in Eugene, Ore.

Representing Trinidad and Tobago, Richard Thompson has already won three silver medals in the past two Summer Olympics. His personal best of 9.82 seconds in the 100 is good enough for ninth best all time. Thompson is set to run in the 100 and 4x100 relay competitions in Rio.

At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Canadian sprinter Donovan Bailey set the world record in the 100, winning it in 9.84 seconds. It was a glorious moment for Donovan, a moment that would end up being the finest of his career, as a torn Achilles tendon effectively ended his days a sprinter in 1997.

Donovan Bailey’s personal best of 9.84 seconds in the 100 is a time shared by fellow Canadian sprinter Bruny Surin. Surin recorded his personal best at the 1999 World Championships.

Also with a personal best of 9.84 seconds in the 100, American sprinter Trayvon Bromell is looking to win his first Olympic medal in Rio. The 21-year-old dominated track and field competitions during his time at Baylor University and appears primed to become the next great American track and field star.

In July 1994, Leroy Burrell ran the 100-meter dash 9.85 seconds, making him the fastest man on the planet for a time. Unfortunately for Burrell, he was unable to have a long and enduring career as a sprinter due to a number of injuries.

While not the fastest man ever, Olusoji Fasuba holds an African record time of 9.85 in the 100. He set the record in 2006, two years after winning a bronze medal at the 2004 Games as a member of Nigeria's 4x100 relay team.

Born in St. Louis, Mike Rodgers is considered a dark-horse contender in the 100 later this month in Rio. Rodgers has a personal best of 9.85 seconds in the event.

One of the greatest American athletes of the 20th century, track and field star Carl Lewis won nine Olympic gold medals over the course of his storied career. Lewis’ best time in the 100 came in 1991, when he set a then world record in the event by completing it 9.86 seconds. In 1999, Lewis was named "Sportsman of the Century" by the International Olympic Committee.

Also owning a personal best 9.86 seconds in the 100 is Namibian sprinter Frankie Fredericks. Fredericks won a total of four silver medals at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games.

Another owner of four Olympic medals in track, Ato Boldon set his personal best of 9.86 seconds in the 100 in 1996. Boldon is currently a track and field analyst for ESPN and NBC Sports.

Francis Obikwelu is the fastest man ever to represent Portugal at the Olympics. The silver medal winner of the 100 at the 2004 Games, Obikwelu also has personal best in the event of 9.86 seconds, a time that is still tied for fastest ever by a European.

Keston Bledman began to make a name for himself in track and field after he upset Yohan Blake in the 100 at the 2007 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships. Bledman’s personal best in the event is 9.86 seconds. The sprinter from Trinidad and Tobago will attempt to win his first Olympic gold medal later this month.

Currently the fastest European-born sprinter, Jimmy Vicaut will represent France this month in Rio. The 24-year-old Vicaut’s personal best in the 100 is 9.86 seconds.

The first European to run a sub-10-second time in the 100 is British sprinter Linford Christie. Christie took home the gold at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona in the event and dominated European track and field competitions in the late 1980s and early 1990s. His personal best in the 100-meter dash came in 1993, when he ran it in 9.87 seconds.

Representing the tiny island nation of Barbados, Obadele Thompson gave his nation something take pride in when he ran the 100 in 9.87 seconds in 1998. Thompson would again give the people of Barbados something to cheer for when he won the bronze medal in the same event at the 2000 Olympic Games.

A three-time Olympic medal winner, Shawn Crawford’s personal best in the 100 is 9.88 seconds. Born in Van Wyck, S.C., Crawford had a successful career in track and field come to an end in 2012 when he was suspended multiple years for failed drug tests.

Another member of the 9.88-second club, American sprinter Walter Dix won two bronze medals at the 2008 Olympics. Dix would have likely competed for the United States at the 2012 Games, but a pulled muscle in qualifying saw his Olympic dreams come to an end. 

American sprinter Ryan Bailey turned some heads in 2010 when he ran the 100 in 9.88 seconds as a 21-year-old. After coming home empty-handed at the 2012 Games, Bailey is still looking to earn his first Olympic medal.

A two-time Olympic gold medalist in the 4x100 relay, Michael Frater also owns a personal best of 9.88 seconds in the 100-meter dash. The 33-year-old from Jamaica has won an additional two gold medals in the 4x100 relay at the IAAF World Championships.