The fastest women in the world (all time)

In July 1988, Florence Griffith Joyner ran the women’s 100 meters relay in 10.49 seconds, a record that stands to this day. Griffith Joyner was the biggest female track and field star in 1980s and won a total of five Olympic medals, including three golds. Sadly, she died in her sleep due to an epileptic seizure in 1998 at the young age of 38.

A three-time Olympic medalist, American sprinter Carmelita Jeter is the second fastest woman in recorded history. Jeter ran the 100-meter relay in 10.64 seconds at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix in 2009. Born in Los Angeles, Jeter is not competing at the 2016 games in Rio.

The third fastest woman ever, American track and field star Marion Jones left the sport disgraced in 2007 after a drug scandal. After her career as a runner came to an end, Jones went on to play 47 games in the WNBA for the Tulsa Shock.

Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce became the fourth fastest woman ever in 2012, when she ran the 100-meter dash in 10.70 seconds. Nicknamed the “Pocket Rocket,” Fraser-Pryce is one of Jamaica’s finest runners, having already won two gold and two silver Olympic medals, a total she looks to add to this month in Rio.

Fellow Jamaican Elaine Thompson tied Fraser-Pryce’s 100-meter time this past July. The 25-year-old Thompson is widely expected to win her first Olympic medal this month in Rio.

The European record holder in the 100-meter relay, French-born sprinter Christine Arron’s 10.73-second finish in the event is best for sixth all time. Aaron also helped lead France to a bronze medal in the 4x100 relay at the 2004 games in Athens.

A nine-time Olympic medalist, Merlene Ottey’s 10.74-second time in 100-meter relay is tied for seventh best all time by a woman. Ottey was also the first female athlete to run the 60-meter relay in under seven seconds.

Also with a personal best of 10.74 seconds in the 100-meter dash, English Gardner is looking to win her first Olympic medal for the United States this summer in Rio. The 24-year-old Gardner is a Willingboro, N.J. native.

A three-time Olympic medalist for Jamaica, Kerron Stewart has the ninth fastest 100-meter dash time for a woman, clocking in at 10.75 seconds. Born in Kingston, Stewart also won three gold medals from the IAAF World Championships in track and field.

A four-time Olympic gold medalist, Evelyn Ashford is widely regarded as one of the most successful female sprinters of all time. Ashford competed in five different Summer Olympics, and the American set a then-world record in at the 1984 Olympics in the 100-meter dash, running it in 10.84 seconds.

Jamaican sprinter Veronica Campbell-Brown also owns a personal best of 10.84 seconds in the 100-meter relay. Although Campbell-Brown is no slouch when it comes to running the 100-meter dash, it’s the 200-meter relay where she has really shined, winning gold at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics in the event.

A four-time Olympic medalist, Irina Privalova represented Russia at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. In addition to being a specialist in hurdles, Privalova’s other claim to fame is that she ran the 100-meter dash in 10.77 seconds back in 1994.

The 12th fastest woman ever to run the 100-meter dash, Ivet Lalova-Collio’s personal best in the event is also 10.77 seconds. Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, Lalova-Collio would have likely earned a few Olympic medals had a leg injury not sidelined her from all competitions between June 2005 and May 2007.

When Dawn Sowell ran the 100-meter dash in 10.78 seconds in 1989, many pundits were labeling her as the next Florence Griffith Joyner. Unfortunately for Sowell, chronic injuries prevented her from ever competing at the Olympics. Sowell was born in Philadelphia.

A bronze medal winner in the 4x100 relay at the 2000 Olympics, Torri Edwards enjoyed a successful career as a sprinter. Unfortunately for Edwards, a doping ban in 2004 put a stain on her reputation. Still, a 10.78-second time in the 100-meter dash makes her one of the fastest woman ever in the world.

The 10.78-second club added another member to its list this past June when Murielle Ahoure ran the 100-meter dash in that exact time. The 28-year-old Ahoure, who represents the Ivory Coast, will compete in two events later this month in Rio.

A gold medal winner in the 4x100 relay at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tianna Bartoletta also owns a 10.78-second time in the 100-meter dash. Bartoletta, who is one of the best competitive long jumpers in the world, will participate in three track and field events in Rio.

Although she primarily competes in the long jump, Tori Bowie is also a world-class competitor in the 100. This fact is made abundantly clear by her 10.78-second personal best in the event that she recorded this past July. The 25-year-old Bowie will compete in three events for the United States in Rio.

Li Xuemei has the distinction of being the fastest woman ever born on the continent of Asia. The Chinese sprinter ran the 100-meter dash in 10.79 seconds at a competition in 1997. Sadly for Xuemei, injuries prevented her from ever grasping the depths of her potential.

The daughter of Olympic medalist Lennox Miller, Inger Miller outdid her father in 1996 when she won a gold medal in the 4x100 relay at the 1996 Olympics. Miller also has a recorded personal best of 10.79 seconds in the 100-meter dash.

The fastest ever woman from Nigeria, Blessing Okagbare also owns a personal best time of 10.79 seconds in the 100-meter dash. A three-time Olympic medalist already, Okagbare will look to add to her medal count this summer as she competes in four track and field events in Rio.

A four-time Olympic medalist for East Germany, Marlies Gohr was the fastest woman in human history for a time when she ran the 100 in 10.81 seconds in 1983. Gohr also won gold in the 100-meter relay at the first ever IAAF World Championships that same year.

The fastest woman to hail from the Netherlands, Dafne Schippers ran the 100-meter dash in 10.81 seconds in 2015. The 21-year-old Schippers also owns the European record in the 200-meter relay, completing the event in 21.63 seconds.

A three-time Olympic gold medalist for the United States, Gail Devers’ personal best in 100-meter dash is 10.82 seconds. However, what is most amazing about Devers is that she was able overcome a long and arduous battle with Graves’ disease (a disease that nearly caused her feet to be amputated) before she ever competed in the Olympics. Devers is also a member of the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Retired American sprinter Gwen Torrence also has a personal best time of 10.82 seconds in the 100 relay. Torrence, a five-time Olympic medalist for the United States, was famous within the track and field world for her rivalry with fellow American Florence Griffith Joyner.

Ukrainian sprinter Zhanna Block also has a personal best of 10.82 seconds in 100. However, Block was never able to compete in the Olympics during her prime years.

In 2006, Sherone Simpson ran the 100-meter dash in 10.82 seconds, making her one of the fastest women on the planet. Unfortunately for the Jamaican-born Simpson, coming from a country with so many world-class sprinters has made qualifying for the Olympics a tremendous challenge.