100 metres at the Olympics

none August 2016 100 meters Usain Bolt winning-cropped.jpg 250 The 2008 Olympic men's 100 metre final Men and women 1896 2024 1928 2024 9.58 Usain Bolt JAM (2012) 10.49 Florence Griffith-Joyner JAM (2021) Noah Lyles USA Julien Alfred LCA Usain Bolt JAM 9.63 (2012) Elaine Thompson-Herah JAM 10.61 (2021) The 100 metres at the Summer Olympics has been contested since the first edition of the multi-sport event. The men's 100 metres has been present on the Olympic athletics programme since 1896. The 100 metres is considered one of the blue ribbon events of the Olympics and is among the highest profile competitions at the games. It is the most prestigious 100 metres race at an elite level and is the shortest sprinting competition at the Olympics – a position it has held at every edition except for a brief period between 1900 and 1904, when a men's 60 metres was contested.Athletics Men's 60 metres Medalists https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/sports/ATH/mens-60-metres.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20200417040706/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/sports/ATH/mens-60-metres.html 17 April 2020 26 January 2014 SR/Olympic Sports Sports Reference. The first Olympic champions were Thomas Burke in the men's category and, 32 years later, Betty Robinson in the women's category. The Olympic records for the event are 9.63 seconds, set by Usain Bolt in 2012, and 10.61 seconds, set by Elaine Thompson-Herah in 2021.Hayward Paul 2012-08-06 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/athletics/9454728/Usain-Bolt-wins-mens-100m-Olympic-final-in-9.58-seconds-to-seal-legacy.html Usain Bolt wins men's 100m Olympic final in 9.58 seconds to seal legacy The Daily Telegraph 2014-01-26Rosenbaum Mike Women's Olympic Records http://trackandfield.about.com/od/summerolympicgames/tp/Women-S-Olympic-Records.htm live https://web.archive.org/web/20121111174110/http://trackandfield.about.com/od/summerolympicgames/tp/Women-S-Olympic-Records.htm 11 November 2012 26 January 2014 About.com Track & FieldOlympic Games Records https://www.worldathletics.org/records/by-category/olympic-games-records live 26 January 2014 World Athletics https://web.archive.org/web/20191204175759/https://www.worldathletics.org/records/by-category/olympic-games-records 4 December 2019 The world records for the event have been equalled or broken during the Olympics on seven occasions in the men's category and on twelve occasions in the women's.August 2021 Among the competing nations, the United States has had the most success in this event, having won sixteen golds in the men's race and nine in the women's race. Usain Bolt of Jamaica has won three consecutive titles (2008–16). Five other athletes have won back-to-back titles: Wyomia Tyus (1964–68), Carl Lewis (1984–88), Gail Devers (1992–96), Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (2008–12), and Elaine Thompson-Herah (2016–20). Merlene Ottey is the only athlete to win three medals without winning gold, with one silver and two bronze medals. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is the most decorated athlete in the event, male or female, having won 4 medals.Athletics Men's 100 metres Medalists https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/sports/ATH/mens-100-metres.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20200417040504/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/sports/ATH/mens-100-metres.html 17 April 2020 26 January 2014 SR/Olympic Sports Sports ReferenceAthletics Women's 100 metres Medalists https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/sports/ATH/womens-100-metres.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20200417040712/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/sports/ATH/womens-100-metres.html 17 April 2020 26 January 2014 SR/Olympic Sports Sports Reference. Many athletes that compete in this event also compete individually in the Olympic 200 metres and with their national teams in the Olympic 4×100 metres relay, with Jamaicans Usain Bolt and Elaine Thompson-Herah being the only athletes to do so more than once. Nine men have achieved the 100 metres and 200 metres 'Double' at the same Olympic Games—Archie Hahn (1904), Ralph Craig (1912), Percy Williams (1928), Eddie Tolan (1932), Jesse Owens (1936), Bobby Morrow (1956), Valeriy Borzov (1972), Carl Lewis (1984), and Usain Bolt (2008, 2012, 2016). Four of these men were also members of the winning team in the 4 × 100 meters relay at the same games—Jesse Owens (1936), Bobby Morrow (1956), Carl Lewis (1984), and Usain Bolt (2012, 2016). Three of these men have won a fourth gold medal at the same games—Archie Hahn in the now-defunct 60 metres, and both Jesse Owens and Carl Lewis in the long jump. Seven women have achieved the 100 metres and 200 metres 'Double' at the same Olympic Games—Fanny Blankers-Koen (1948), Marjorie Jackson (1952), Betty Cuthbert (1956), Wilma Rudolph (1960), Renate Stecher (1972), Florence Griffith Joyner (1988), and Elaine Thompson-Herah (2016 and 2021). Five of these women were also members of the winning team in the 4 × 100 meters relay at the same games—Fanny Blankers-Koen (1948), Betty Cuthbert (1956), Wilma Rudolph (1960), Florence Griffith Joyner (1988) and Elaine Thompson-Herah (2021). Fanny Blankers-Koen is the only one of these women to win four gold medals at the same games by winning the 80 metres hurdles in 1948. Competition format thumb|Women competing in the first round of the 2012 Summer Olympics thumb|The women's 100-metre medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics The Olympic 100 metres competitions are carried out under standard international rules, as set by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The races are segregated by gender, with one for men and one for women.Competition Rules 2012-2013 http://athleticsasia.org/technical/Competition%Rules%2012-13.pdf dead IAAF Competition Rules Centenary International Association of Athletics Federations 130 https://web.archive.org/web/20140721064422/http://athleticsasia.org/technical/Competition%20Rules%202012-13.pdf 21 July 2014 The 100 m is usually held at the beginning of the Olympic athletics programme as this allows athletes to compete in other events held later at the games – many 100 m athletes also compete in the 200 metres and the 4×100 metres relay events.Athletics - Technical http://www.teamgb.com/summer-sports/athletics dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140328075822/http://www.teamgb.com/summer-sports/athletics 28 March 2014 16 February 2014 Team GB British Olympic Association Traditionally there are four rounds of competition: heats, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals. Prior to 1964, finals featured six athletes. For all Olympic competitions from 1964 onwards—allowing for a sufficient number of athletes being present—each race features eight runners. Athletes are seeded by past performance to ensure an even balance of quality across the heats and allow the best runners to progress to the later stages. Usually in the first two rounds the top three runners progress to the next stage. A small number of other athletes also progress as the fastest non-qualifiers (or "fastest losers") through a repechage system. Prior to 2012, the semi-finals stage comprised two races of eight athletes and the top four finishers in each race (regardless of time) were entered into the final.100m competition format. London 2012 (archived). Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Several amendments were made to the competition format in 2012. Any participant not in possession of an Olympic qualifying standard time is entered into the preliminary round. Qualifiers in this round progress to the first round proper. The semi-finals stage is divided into three races: the top two progress to the final by right and the two fastest non-qualifiers complete the eight finalists. Changes to the international false start rules were also introduced – any validly recorded reaction time to the starter's pistol of below 0.1 seconds will result in instant disqualification. At the 2004 and 2008 Olympics one false start was allowed per race, with any subsequent false start resulting in disqualification for the offending athletes. At Olympics prior to 2004 each athlete was allowed one false start, with a second false start leading to removal from the field.Sprint rule well received. BBC Sport (2003-01-16). Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Hinnen, Jerry (2012-07-24). IAAF adjusts false start rule ahead of the Olympics. CBS Sports. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. The top three finishers in the final are awarded a gold, silver, and bronze medal, respectively. If runners cannot be separated by their time (recorded to one hundredth of a second) further analysis is used to distinguish their times to the thousandth of a second. In the 2008 Women's 100 m final the minor medallists Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart could not be separated by this method and were both awarded the silver medal.Landells, Steve (2008-08-17). Women's 100m - FINAL. IAAF. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Medal positions in a 100 m race have only been shared on one other occasion in Olympic history: Alajos Szokolyi and Francis Lane were joint third at the 1896 men's final. Participation Starting with 15 men from eight nations at the inaugural 1896 Olympic 100 m, participation in the event reached its peak at the 2000 Sydney Games, where 179 male and female athletes from 100 nations were present. The number of competitors and nations in the event has seen an increasing historical trend. This increase has been mostly linear, though participation was affected by the Olympic boycotts of 1976, 1980 and 1984. The linear trend stopped after the 2000 peak and has steadily decreased in subsequent Summer Olympics. + Qualifying standardsJune 2025YearMen "A"Men "B"Women "A"Women "B"2000 10.27 10.40 11.40 11.602004 10.21 10.28 11.30 11.402008 10.21 10.28 11.32 11.422012 10.18 10.24 11.29 11.382016 10.16 11.32 2020/2021 10.05 11.12 Men's participation reached its highest at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, which featured 104 men from 75 nations. Women's participation began in 1928, with 31 women from 13 nations competing, and reached an all-time high at the 2008 Beijing Games, which had 85 women representing 69 nations. The 2008 and 2012 editions reversed the historical gender bias towards male participation, as women outnumbered men at the Olympic 100 m for the first time. As the governing body for the sport of athletics, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) applies qualifying standards to the competition. This aims to encourage high level performances at the Olympic Games and contain the number of potential entries (the IAAF aims to cap Olympic participation in athletics events at 2000 athletes). There are two types of qualifying standard: the "A" standard and the "B" standard. Each National Olympic Committee (NOC) may enter up to three athletes who have obtained the "A" standard, or one athlete with the "B" standard. If a NOC has no qualifying athletes in any Olympic athletic event, it may enter one non-qualified athlete – the 100 m is a frequent choice for this type of entry given the brevity of the event. Athletes must achieve the qualifying time without wind-assistance at an officially authorised event within a certain time period, which typically begins from the year prior to the Olympics and extends up to three weeks before the games. The IAAF prohibits entrants who do not reach the age of sixteen in that Olympic year, but there is no upper age limit. The IAAF qualifying standards for the 100 m have become progressively more stringent since 2000.The XXIX Olympic Games - Beijing, China - 8/24 August 2008. IAAF (2008-02-05). Retrieved on 2014-01-31.Sydney 2000 Olympics Entry Standards. IAAF (1999-06-08). Retrieved on 2014-01-31.Olympic Games, Athens. IAAF (2008-02-05). Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Entry Standards for London Olympics. IAAF (2011-04-15). Retrieved on 2014-02-01. On top of IAAF standards, national governing bodies may apply their own participation restrictions. These principally come in four forms: stricter national qualifying times, reduced time periods for qualifying performances,Qualifying Standards. USATF. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. performances in the event at a national Olympic trials, and decisions of national selection committees. Smaller nations do not typically apply these additional criteria due to the smaller numbers of sprinters eligible to compete. Larger nations, and nations with strong traditions in sprinting, often have long-running histories of Olympic 100 m trials (such as at the United States Olympic Trials). Participation for a country also demands that the athlete hold respective citizenship and is not subject to a competitive ban through anti-doping rules.Athlete Selection Procedure Form for the Olympic Games. United States Olympic Committee (2012). Retrieved on 2014-02-01. World Athletics in 2019 announced that, following the inauguration of their World Rankings platform, that in addition to those who achieved the Olympic standard, placing in the top 32 of the rankings will serve as a qualification method for athletes. (For example, if someone comes 3rd in the 100 m finals of their national championships in 10.14, if he is 22nd in the World Rankings, he has qualified for the games). YearNo. ofmenNations(men)No. ofwomenNations(women)TotalathletesTotalnationsMen's championWomen's champion1896Athletics at the 1896 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-01-31. 15 8 15 8 Thomas Burke USA 1900Athletics at the 1900 Paris Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-01-31. 20 9 20 9 Frank Jarvis USA 1904Athletics at the 1904 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-01-31. 11 3 11 3 Archie Hahn USA 1908Athletics at the 1908 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-01-31. 60 16 60 16 Reggie Walker RSA 1908 Summer 1912Athletics at the 1912 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-01-31. 70 22 70 22 Ralph Craig USA 1920Athletics at the 1920 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-01-31. 61 23 61 23 Charlie Paddock USA 1924Athletics at the 1924 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-01-31. 86 34 86 34 Harold Abrahams GBR 1928Athletics at the 1928 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Athletics at the 1928 Summer Games: Women's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. 81 33 31 13 107 35 Percy Williams CAN 1928 Summer Betty Robinson USA1932Athletics at the 1932 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Athletics at the 1932 Summer Games: Women's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. 33 17 20 10 51 19 Eddie Tolan USA Stanisława Walasiewicz POL1936Athletics at the 1936 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Athletics at the 1936 Summer Games: Women's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. 61 30 30 15 91 33 Jesse Owens USA Helen Stephens USA1948Athletics at the 1948 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Athletics at the 1948 Summer Games: Women's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. 61 33 38 21 99 39 Harrison Dillard USA Fanny Blankers-Koen NED1952Athletics at the 1952 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Athletics at the 1952 Summer Games: Women's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. 70 33 56 27 126 41 Lindy Remigino USA Marjorie Jackson AUS1956Athletics at the 1956 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Athletics at the 1956 Summer Games: Women's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. 63 31 34 16 97 34 Bobby Morrow USA Betty Cuthbert AUS1960Athletics at the 1960 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Athletics at the 1960 Summer Games: Women's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. 59 45 31 18 90 50 Armin Hary EUA Wilma Rudolph USA1964Athletics at the 1964 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Athletics at the 1964 Summer Games: Women's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. 71 49 44 27 115 56 Bob Hayes USA Wyomia Tyus USA1968Athletics at the 1968 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Athletics at the 1968 Summer Games: Women's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. 63 42 42 22 105 48 Jim Hines USA Wyomia Tyus USA1972Athletics at the 1972 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Athletics at the 1972 Summer Games: Women's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. 83 55 47 33 130 68 Valeriy Borzov URS Renate Stecher GDR1976Athletics at the 1976 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Athletics at the 1976 Summer Games: Women's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. 61 40 39 22 100 45 Hasely Crawford TRI Annegret Richter FRG1980Athletics at the 1980 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Athletics at the 1980 Summer Games: Women's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. 63 41 40 25 103 46 Allan Wells GBR Lyudmila Kondratyeva URS1984Athletics at the 1984 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Athletics at the 1984 Summer Games: Women's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. 80 59 46 33 126 68 Carl Lewis USA Evelyn Ashford USA1988Athletics at the 1988 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Athletics at the 1988 Summer Games: Women's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. 100 69 64 42 164 85 Carl Lewis USA Florence Griffith Joyner USA1992Athletics at the 1992 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Athletics at the 1992 Summer Games: Women's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. 79 66 54 41 133 86 Linford Christie GBR Gail Devers USA1996Athletics at the 1996 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Athletics at the 1996 Summer Games: Women's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. 104 75 56 38 160 89 Donovan Bailey CAN Gail Devers USA2000Athletics at the 2000 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Athletics at the 2000 Summer Games: Women's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. 95 71 84 63 179 100 Maurice Greene USA VacatedOlympic Women's 100 metres medallists. International Olympic Committee. Retrieved on 2014-01-31.2004Athletics at the 2004 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Athletics at the 2004 Summer Games: Women's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. 80 62 63 51 143 89 Justin Gatlin USA Yulia Nestsiarenka BLR2008Athletics at the 2008 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Athletics at the 2008 Summer Games: Women's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. 78 64 85 69 163 96 Usain Bolt JAM Shelly-Ann Fraser JAM2012Athletics at the 2012 Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Athletics at the 2012 Summer Games: Women's 100 metres. Sports Reference.. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. 72 61 79 65 151 92 Usain Bolt JAM Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce JAM20168457805616482Usain Bolt JAMElaine Thompson JAM2020Marcell Jacobs ITAElaine Thompson-Herah JAM2024Noah Lyles USAJulien Alfred LCA Data notes Numbers do not include non-starting athletes. There have been two Olympic 100 m non-starters: Estonia's Reinhold Saulmann in 1920, and Kim Collins in 2012 – the latter was banned from competing by the St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee for defying their orders and leaving the Olympic camp to stay with his wife.Olympics athletics: Kim Collins 'dropped for visiting wife'. BBC Sport (2012-08-04). Retrieved on 2014-01-31. Nations are above defined as the competing Olympic team as opposed to athletes' legal nationalities – the various Unified teams and Independent Olympian teams are thus each treated as one nation at that Olympic Games. Biological factors Age The 100 m requires a high level of athleticism and as a result most of the participants in the Olympics are aged between 18 and 35 – which is roughly contiguous with the period of peak physical fitness in humans.Bongard, Vanina, et al. (2007-06-23). Effects of age and gender on physical performance. AGE (American Aging Association). Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Consequently, the vast majority of participants in the Olympic 100 m fall within this age range. As of 2020, the qualification rules prohibit athletes younger than 16 at the end of the year of the Games.Qualification System – Games of the XXXII Olympiad – Athletics IAAF The record for the youngest athlete to participate in the Olympic 100 m is held by Katura Marae, who was 14 when she represented Vanuatu at the 2004 Athens Olympics.Katura Marae. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Merlene Ottey holds the records for both the oldest participant and the oldest medallist, having won bronze at age 40 in 2000 and reached the Olympic semi-finals four years later. (Ottey is also the most frequent participant having competed in the Olympic 100 m an unrivalled six times from 1984 to 2004).Merlene Ottey-Page. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. The first women's champion, Betty Robinson in 1928, remains the youngest gold medallist for the event at 16 years old,Betty Robinson. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. while a 32-year-old Linford Christie became the oldest 100 m Olympic champion in 1992.Linford Christie. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. DistinctionMale athleteAgeFemale athleteAgeYoungest champion Reggie Walker 19 years, 4 months, 6 daysReggie Walker. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Betty Robinson 16 years, 11 months, 8 daysYoungest medallist Donald Lippincott 18 years, 7 months, 21 daysDonald Lippincott. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Betty Robinson 16 years, 11 months, 8 daysYoungest participant Alphonse Yanghat 15 years, 3 months, 27 daysAlphonse Yanghat. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Katura Marae 14 years, 8 months, 17 daysOldest champion Linford Christie 32 years, 3 months, 30 days Fanny Blankers-Koen 30 years, 3 months, 7 daysFanny Blankers-Koen. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Oldest medallist Linford Christie 32 years, 3 months, 30 days Merlene Ottey 40 years, 4 months, 14 daysOldest participant Stefan Burkart 38 years, 10 months, 14 daysStefan Burkart. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Merlene Ottey 44 years, 4 months, 11 days Gender Since introduction of testing by the IAAF in the early-20th century, female sprinters may be subject to gender verification. This rule was first formally applied to the 100 m at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.Saner, Emine (2008-07-30). The gender trap. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. No 100 m sprinter has been publicly barred at an Olympic competition. However, there have been historic cases involving two women's medallists: 1932 champion Stanisława Walasiewicz and 1964 bronze medallist Ewa Kłobukowska, both of Poland. Walasiewicz endured accusations during her career due to her appearance, but was never subject to a test.Richie, Robert, et al (2008-08-01). Intersex and the Olympic Games. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (vol. 101 no. 8 395-399). Retrieved on 2014-02-01. An autopsy following her death in a shooting revealed ambiguous genitalia.Augustyn, Adam (2012-04-13). Stanisława Walasiewicz. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Walasiewicz accused Helen Stephens (who beat her in the 1936 final) of being male and, despite there being no relevant rules on the matter, officials performed a physical examination of Stephens' external genitalia and concluded that she was female. Kłobukowska was not tested at the Olympics, thus did not lose her Olympic medals, but was subsequently disqualified at the 1967 European Cup on the basis of having a chromosomal mosaic.Heggie, Vanessa (2012-08-02). Sex testing and the Olympics: myths, rumours and confirmation bias. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Intersex athletes are restricted from competition in the 100 m without having undergone surgery and hormonal therapy, as a result of the 2003 Stockholm consensus ruling by the IOC.Sch 12.11.03 Statement of the Stockholm consensus on sex reassignment in sports. International Olympic Committee. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Race Race and sports thumb|Runners in the men's 100-metre final at the 2012 Summer Olympics Olympic 100 m medallists in the early phase of the Modern Olympic Games were principally white, Western sprinters of European descent, largely reflecting the euro-centric make up of the nations that took part and the ideological environment of racial segregation at the time. As the Olympic competition began to attract wider international participation, athletes with African heritage began to reach and eventually dominate the 100 m Olympic podium, particularly African-Americans and Afro-Caribbeans.Sears, Edward Seldon (2001). Running Through the Ages (pg. 178-183). McFarland. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Eddie Tolan became the first non-white winner of the event in 1932 and this signified the start of a prolonged period of success by black male sprinters; since 1932 only five men's Olympic champions in the event have not had significant African heritage. The women's event was dominated by runners of European descent until Wilma Rudolph won the title in 1960. Soviet and German women returned to the podium in the period from 1972 to 1980, but since then African-American and Jamaican women have won the great majority of 100 m medals. Dominance in the men's event has been particularly pronounced from 1984 to 2016, during which time in a span of almost 40 years all the men's Olympic 100 m finalists have been of African heritage.Syed, Matthew (2012-08-09). Genetic research shows athletic skill is not a black and white issue. The Australian/The Times. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. In the 2020 Olympics, Chinese sprinter Su Bingtian ran 9.83 in his semi-final heat and became the first athlete without African heritage to reach the final since 1980 within the span of 40 years, setting an unofficial fastest 60 metres split record en route. 9.83 is also the second-fastest semi-final time and made him the fifth-fastest man in the history of 100 metres at the Olympics, behind Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Justin Gatlin and Marcel Jacobs. Most commentators attribute this statistical discrepancy to genetic rather than to cultural factors.Entine, Jon (2012-08-12). The DNA Olympics -- Jamaicans Win Sprinting 'Genetic Lottery' -- and Why We Should All Care. Forbes Magazine. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Is it wrong to note 100m winners are always black?. BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Moore, Matthew (2010-07-12). Centre of gravity theory for dominance of black sprinters and white swimmers. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Doping All athletes who participate in the Olympic 100 m competition are subject to the World Anti-Doping Code—the IAAF and International Olympic Committee (IOC) are both signatories. Mandatory in-competition drug testing was introduced at the 1968 Summer Olympics.Rosenbaum, Mike. Drug Testing Scandals: Olympic Sprint Controversies https://web.archive.org/web/20140203122712/http://trackandfield.about.com/od/sprintsandhurdles/a/controvsprint.htm 3 February 2014 . About Track and Field. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. One of the most prominent cases of doping at the Olympics, and in sport as a whole, occurred during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Ben Johnson entered the race as the reigning 100 metres world record holder and won the Olympic final, raising his arm in victory, in a new world record of 9.79 seconds to much fanfare. Soon after being awarded the gold medal the results of his post-race drug test revealed his urine contained traces of stanozolol (a banned steroid).Weinberg, Rick. ESPN.com - ESPN 25 - 53: Johnson flunks drug test, loses gold medal . ESPN. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Johnson later admitted to doping, but he and his coach Charlie Francis still claimed he had his drink spiked at the Olympics, as Johnson was taking a different type of steroid at the time.Francis, Charlie (1991). Speed Trap. St. Martins Press. 0-312-04877-7. The positive test had long-lasting effects on public perception of the sport and advanced the case for more stringent drug testing. The Canadian government launched an investigation into drugs in sport, known as the Dubin Inquiry, the following year.Ormsby, Mary & Hall, Joseph (2008-09-24). Ben Johnson scandal still haunts track world. The Toronto Star. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. The 1988 Olympic men's 100 metres final has been referred to as "the dirtiest race in history", as only two of the eight finalists remained free of doping issues during their careers.Crompton, Sarah (2012-10-12). Forgotten heroes who rose above the scandal of drugs. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Ekaterini Thanou, the 2000 women's silver medallist, was barred from the 2004 Athens Olympics after failing to attend a pre-competition drugs test (her third consecutive missed test). The Greek sprinter and her teammate Kostas Kenteris were convicted of staging a motorcycle crash to avoid the test, but this was overturned on appeal. Her doping ban remained as they admitted to having missed the tests.Macur, Juliet (2011-09-06). Peculiar Doping Case Takes Another Twist. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Tameka Williams was banned from competing in the 100 m at the 2012 Olympics when, at the Olympic village, she admitted to the Saint Kitts and Nevis management team that she had been ingesting a banned substance.London 2012 Olympics: Sprinter Tameka Williams sent home over drugs. The Scotsman (2012-07-30). Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Bulgaria's Tezdzhan Naimova had her 2008 Olympic performance annulled and received a two-year ban after it was proved that she had tampered with her drug test a month prior to the competition.Doping Rule Violation. IAAF (2009-02-18). Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Another high-profile doping case involved the 2000 Olympic women's 100 m champion Marion Jones, though no doping infractions occurred during the Olympics. Having been one of the stars of the games—she won three gold and two bronze medals in track and field events—Jones was later implicated in doping through the BALCO scandal. She lied to federal agents and a grand jury during questioning around the scandal, but later admitted in 2007 to using Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) during the period of her Olympic success.Bond, David (2007-10-06). Marion Jones finally confesses to steroid use. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. The IOC annulled all her Olympic results, including her 100 m title. Given that the 2000 women's runner-up Ekaterini Thanou had herself been banned for drug usage, the IOC chose not to upgrade her to the gold medal position, but rather leave the position vacant.Marion Jones. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Working around the dilemma, the IOC decided to raise bronze medallist Tayna Lawrence to joint silver and fourth-placed Merlene Ottey to the bronze medal position.Katerina Thanou denied Marion Jones' Olympic 100m gold. BBC Sport (2009-12-08). Retrieved on 2014-02-01. In spite of the relatively few occasions in which 100 m sprinters have failed doping tests at the Olympics, numerous Olympic sprinters have been banned outside the competition or implicated otherwise, including many medallists. Two-time Olympic champion Carl Lewis had a positive drug test for stimulants at the US Olympic trials. The United States Olympic Committee accepted his claim of inadvertent use, since a dietary supplement he ingested was found to contain "Ma huang", the Chinese name for Ephedra (ephedrine is known to help weight loss). The 1992 Olympic champion Linford Christie was banned for nandrolone later in his career.Milmo, Cahal (2000-08-22). BBC drops Linford Christie after drugs ban is confirmed . The Independent. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Angel Guillermo Heredia accused the 2000 Olympic champion Maurice Greene of doping; Greene admitted meeting Heredia but claimed it was common for him to pay for "stuff" for other members of his training group, and reiterated that he had never used banned drugs.https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/sports/othersports/17track.html I.A.A.F. Seeks an Explanation From Greene About Drug Allegations Wilson, Duff 2008-04-17 The New York Times 0362-4331 2016-08-19Maurice Greene denies link to doping scandal https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/athletics/2297315/Maurice-Greene-denies-link-to-doping-scandal.html 30 January 2018 The Daily Telegraph 14 April 2008 Justin Gatlin, the men's gold medallist in 2004, served a doping suspension both before and after his Olympic win, and returned to the podium at the 2012 Olympics.Gatlin's Doping Ban Reduced to 4 Years . The New York Times (2008-01-02). Retrieved on 2014-02-01. The men's runner-up in 2012, Yohan Blake, was banned for consuming a stimulant in 2009.Jamaican athletes fail drug tests. BBC Sport (2009-07-24). Retrieved on 2014-02-01. On the women's side, the Olympic 100 m was affected by state-sponsored doping in East Germany. Stasi documents released after the fall of the Berlin Wall revealed extensive drug usage by Olympic sprinters, including the 1976 and 1980 silver medallists Renate Stecher and Marlies Göhr, as well as the 1988 bronze medallist Heike Drechsler.Franke, Werner & Berendonk, Brigitte (1997). "Hormonal doping and androgenization of athletes: a secret program of the German Democratic Republic government https://web.archive.org/web/20110514103044/http://www.clinchem.org/cgi/content/full/43/7/1262 14 May 2011 ". Proceedings of the Doping in Sport Symposium. Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Brigitte Berendonk: Doping documents - From Scientific Research to Cheating. Springer-Verlag, Berlin 1991, 3-540-53742-2, p. 122, Fig 6 Shelly-Ann Fraser, twice Olympic champion, received a six-month ban in 2010 for taking a prohibited narcotic for pain relief.Six-month ban for sprint champion Shelly-Ann Fraser. BBC Sport (2010-10-06). Retrieved on 2014-02-01. A similar system was in place in the Soviet Union with major revelations concerning the Soviet state-sponsored doping program in preparation for the 1984 Olympics coming to light in 2016.The Soviet Doping Plan: Document Reveals Illicit Approach to '84 Olympics The New York Times The 2008 runner-up Sherone Simpson was banned in 2013 after a positive test for a stimulant and two-time bronze medallist Veronica Campbell-Brown failed a test for a diuretic that same year.Riach, James (2014-01-06). Jamaica's Sherone Simpson faces anti-doping panel after positive test. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2014-02-01. A fourth Jamaican medallist, Merlene Ottey, received a ban for the steroid nandrolone in 1999 but this was rescinded on appeal due to laboratory errors.IOC hit back in Ottey doping case. BBC Sport (2000-07-13). Retrieved on 2014-02-01.Ottey cleared to run again. BBC Sport (2000-07-03). Retrieved on 2014-02-01. Medal summary June 2025 Men Multiple medallists Rank Athlete Nation OlympicsGoldSilverBronze Total 1 Usain Bolt JAM 2008–2016 3 0 0 3 2 Carl Lewis USA 1984–1988 2 0 0 2 3 Justin Gatlin USA 2004–2016 1 1 1 3 4 Linford Christie GBR 1988–1992 1 1 0 25 Valeriy Borzov URS 1972–1976 1 0 1 2Maurice Greene Maurice Greene (athlete) USA 2000–2004 1 0 1 27 Ralph Metcalfe USA 1932–1936 0 2 0 2Frankie Fredericks NAM 1992–1996 0 2 0 29 Lennox Miller JAM 1968–1972 0 1 1 2Ato Boldon TRI 1996–2000 0 1 1 2Fred Kerley USA 2020–2024 0 1 1 2 12 Andre De Grasse CAN 2016–2020 0 0 2 2 Medals by country FlagIOC 17 15 10 4 2 3 3 4 1 2 5 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 Women Multiple medallists Rank Athlete Nation OlympicsGoldSilverBronze Total 1 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce JAM 2008–2020 2 1 1 42 Wyomia Tyus USA 1964–1968 2 0 0 2Gail Devers USA 1992–1996 2 0 0 2Elaine Thompson-Herah JAM 2016–2020 2 0 0 25 Stanisława Walasiewicz POL 1932–1936 1 1 0 2Renate Stecher GDR 1972–1976 1 1 0 2Evelyn Ashford USA 1984–1988 1 1 0 2 8 Merlene Ottey JAM 1984–2000 0 1 2 39 Shirley Strickland AUS 1948–1952 0 0 2 2Veronica Campbell-Brown JAM 2004–2012 0 0 2 2 Medals by country FlagIOC 9 8 3 4 6 6 2 1 3 1 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Overall Medals by country FlagIOC 25 22 11 7 10 7 3 4 3 2 2 6 2 1 5 2 1 1 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Olympic record progression The best time for the 100 m set during Olympic competition is known as the Olympic record. To count as an official record, the race and the equipment used must adhere to IAAF international rules. Hand-timed results were the standard until 1975, when fully automatic timing (FAT) became the preferred method for officially measuring athletes' times. Further to this wind conditions must be measured and any time achieved with a wind speed of over 2.0 metres per second in a direction behind the athlete is treated as wind-assisted and cannot be taken for an Olympic record mark.Mallon, Bill (2012). TRACK & FIELD ATHLETICS - OLYMPIC RECORD PROGRESSIONSAugust 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes . Track and Field News. Retrieved on 2014-01-26. Since the first men's Olympic record of 12.2 seconds by Frank Lane in 1896, the record has been broken 13 times and matched 24 times. Twenty-eight men have been holder (or co-holder) of the record. Usain Bolt is the current record holder with 9.63, set in 2012. Further to this standing men's world record for the 100 m has been equalled five times in Olympic competition and improved twice (by Carl Lewis in 1988 with 9.92 and by Bolt in 2008 with 9.69). Ben Johnson's time of 9.79 was annulled before it was ratified as either an Olympic or world record. Since the initial women's Olympic record of 13.0 seconds was set by Anni Holdmann in 1928, it has been broken 18 times and equalled 17 further times. The standing women's 100 m world record has been improved five times during Olympic competition and equalled seven times. The tables below refer to hand-timing for races held prior to the 1972 Summer Olympics and to fully automatic times after that point, when they became the standard for the Olympics. Hand-timed results that matched the Olympic record are treated as equalling the mark, with the exception of any athletes that matched that time but finished behind another athlete in their race. Men Men's 100 metres world record progression thumb|In the 1896 Summer Olympics, Thomas Curtis of the United States (pictured) tied Grantley Goulding of the United Kingdom in setting the first Olympic 100-metre record, completing the race in 12.2 seconds. thumb|After Ben Johnson's disqualification, Carl Lewis's time of 9.92 was established as the Olympic and world record time. TimeAthleteNationGamesRoundDate 12.2 Francis Lane USA 1896 Heat 1 1896-04-06 12.2 Thomas Curtis Thomas Curtis (athlete) USA 1896 Heat 2 1896-04-06 11.8 Tom Burke Thomas Burke (athlete) USA 1896 Heat 3 1896-04-06 11.4 Arthur Duffey USA 1900 Heat 1 1900-06-14 11.4 Walter Tewksbury USA 1900 Heat 2 1900-06-14 10.8 =WR Frank Jarvis athlete USA 1900 Heat 3 1900-06-14 10.8 =WR Walter Tewksbury USA 1900 Semi-final 2 1900-06-14 10.8 James Rector USA 1908 Heat 15 1908-07-20 10.8 Reggie Walker Reggie Walker (sprinter) RSA 1908 Summer 1908 Semi-final 1 1908-07-20 10.8 James Rector USA 1908 Semi-final 3 1908-07-20 10.8 Reggie Walker Reggie Walker (sprinter) RSA 1908 Summer 1908 Final 1908-07-20 10.8 David Jacobs David Jacobs (Welsh athlete) GBR 1912 Heat 10 1912-07-06 10.6 Donald Lippincott USA 1912 Heat 16 1912-07-06 10.6 Harold Abrahams GBR 1924 Quarter-final 4 1924-07-06 10.6 Harold Abrahams GBR 1924 Semi-final 2 1924-07-07 10.6 Harold Abrahams GBR 1924 Final 1924-07-07 10.6 Percy Williams Percy Williams (sprinter) CAN 1928 Summer (CAN) 1928 Quarter-final 4 1928-07-29 10.6 Robert McAllister Bob McAllister (athlete) USA 1928 Semi-final 1 1928-07-30 10.6 Jack London USA 1928 Semi-final 2 1928-07-30 10.6 Arthur Jonath GER 1932 Heat 3 1932-07-31 10.4 Eddie Tolan USA 1932 Quarter-final 1 1932-07-31 10.3 =WR Eddie Tolan USA 1932 Final 1932-08-01 10.3 Jesse Owens USA 1936 Heat 1 1936-08-02 10.3 Harrison Dillard USA 1948 Final 1948-07-31 10.3 Bobby Joe Morrow USA 1956 Quarter-final 1 1956-11-23 10.3 Ira Murchison USA 1956 Quarter-final 2 1956-11-23 10.3 Bobby Joe Morrow USA 1956 Semi-final 2 1956-11-24 10.2 Armin Hary FRG 1960 Quarter-final 2 1960-08-31 10.2 Armin Hary FRG 1960 Final 1960-08-31 10.0 =WR Bob Hayes USA 1964 Final 1964-10-15 10.0 A Hermes Ramírez CUB 1968 Quarter-final 2 1968-10-13 10.0 A Charlie Greene Charles Greene (athlete) USA 1968 Quarter-final 4 1968-10-13 10.0 A Jim Hines USA 1968 Semi-final 1 1968-10-14 9.9 A =WR Jim Hines USA 1968 Final 1968-10-14 9.92 WRnb3 nb3 nb3 Carl Lewis USA 1988 Final 1988-09-24 9.84 WR Donovan Bailey CAN 1996 Final 1996-07-27 9.69 WRUsain Bolt JAM 2008 Final 2008-08-16 9.63 Usain Bolt JAM 2012 Final 2012-08-05 nb3 nb3 nb3 Carl Lewis's time of 9.92 seconds in the 1988 Olympic final was initially second to Ben Johnson's 9.79, but Johnson was disqualified soon after due to a failed drug test. Women Women's 100 metres world record progression thumb|Wilma Rudolph's time of 11.3 in 1960 was an Olympic and world record time. thumb|Irena Szewińska's time of 11.1 seconds stood as the Olympic record for one day. thumb|In 2021, Elaine Thompson-Herah ran 10.61 s to break Florence Griffith-Joyner's 1988 Olympic record of 10.62 s. TimeAthleteNationGamesRoundDate 13.0 Anni Holdmann GER 1928 Heat 1 1928-07-30 12.8 Erna Steinberg GER 1928 Heat 2 1928-07-30 12.8 Kinue Hitomi JPN 1928 Heat 3 1928-07-30 12.8 Leni Junker GER 1928 Heat 4 1928-07-30 12.8 Leni Schmidt GER 1928 Heat 6 1928-07-30 12.6 Fanny Rosenfeld CAN 1928 Summer (CAN) 1928 Heat 7 1928-07-30 12.6 Ethel Smith Ethel Smith (athlete) CAN 1928 Summer (CAN) 1928 Heat 9 1928-07-30 12.4 Fanny Rosenfeld CAN 1928 Summer (CAN) 1928 Semi-final 1 1928-07-30 12.4 Betty Robinson USA 1928 Semi-final 2 1928-07-30 12.2 WR Betty Robinson USA 1928 Final 1928-07-31 12.2 Marie Dollinger GER 1932 Heat 1 1932-08-01 11.9 WR Stanisława Walasiewicz POL 1932 Heat 2 1932-08-01 11.9 =WR Stanisława Walasiewicz POL 1932 Semi-final 2 1932-08-01 11.9 =WR Stanisława Walasiewicz POL 1932 Final 1932-08-02 11.9 Fanny Blankers-Koen NED 1948 Final 1948-08-02 11.9 Catherine Hardy USA 1952 Heat 7 1952-07-21 11.6 Marjorie Jackson AUS 1952 Heat 8 1952-07-21 11.6 Marjorie Jackson AUS 1952 Quarter-final 1 1952-07-21 11.5 =WR Marjorie Jackson AUS 1952 Semi-final 1 1952-07-22 11.5 =WR Marjorie Jackson AUS 1952 Final 1952-07-22 11.5 Marlene Mathews AUS 1956 Heat 2 1956-11-24 11.4 Betty Cuthbert AUS 1956 Heat 3 1956-11-24 11.3 =WR Wilma Rudolph USA 1960 Semi-final 1 1960-09-02 11.2 =WR Wyomia Tyus USA 1964 Quarter-final 1 1964-10-15 11.2 A Wyomia Tyus USA 1968 Heat 1 1968-10-14 11.2 A Margaret Bailes USA 1968 Heat 2 1968-10-14 11.2 A Barbara Ferrell USA 1968 Heat 6 1968-10-14 11.1 A =WR Barbara Ferrell USA 1968 Quarter-final 1 1968-10-14 11.1 A =WR Irena Szewińska-Kirszenstein POL 1968 Quarter-final 4 1968-10-14 11.0 A WR Wyomia Tyus USA 1968 Final 1968-10-15 11.07 WR Renate Stecher GDR 1972 Quarter-final 1 1972-09-01 11.05 Annegret Richter FRG 1976 Quarter-final 1 1976-07-24 11.01 WR Annegret Richter FRG 1976 Semi-final 1 1976-07-25 10.97 Evelyn Ashford USA 1984 Final 1984-08-05 10.88 Florence Griffith Joyner USA 1988 Heat 7 1988-09-24 10.88 Evelyn Ashford USA 1988 Quarter-final 2 1988-09-24 10.62 Florence Griffith Joyner USA 1988 Quarter-final 3 1988-09-24 10.61 Elaine Thompson-Herah JAM 2021 Final 2021-07-31 Finishing times The Olympic 100 m is the most prestigious competition for the distance and it attracts elite level, international competitors. The winner of the race is occasionally referred to as "the world's fastest" man or woman, reflecting the high level of the competition and the quality of performances.Coffey, Wayne (2012-08-06). Jamaica's Usain Bolt retains his title as world's fastest man as he blows past the field to win 100-meter gold in 9.63 seconds. New York Daily News. Retrieved on 2014-02-04.Longman, Jere (2012-08-05). In Fastest Field Ever, the World's Fastest Man Proves It Again. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2014-02-04. February 2014, the current Olympic records of 9.63 for men and 10.62 seconds for women rank as the second and third fastest times in history, for men and women respectively.100 Metres - men - senior - outdoor. IAAF (2014-02-04). Retrieved on 2014-02-04.100 Metres - women - senior - outdoor. IAAF (2014-02-04). Retrieved on 2014-02-04. The standard of performances at the Olympics has progressed in line with the discipline as a whole and the times in the final often rank highly in the end-of-season lists.100 Metres - men - senior - outdoor - 2012. IAAF. Retrieved on 2014-02-04.100 Metres - men - senior - outdoor - 2008. IAAF. Retrieved on 2014-02-04.100 Metres - men - senior - outdoor - 2004. IAAF. Retrieved on 2014-02-04. National records and personal bests are frequently improved at the event by sprinters from large and small nations alike, as most elite athletes aim to reach peak race fitness for the Olympics.Results The XXX Olympic Games GREAT BRITAIN & N.I. London, GREAT BRITAIN & N.I. 27 JUL 2012 - 12 AUG 2012 100 Metres - women Heats Summary. IAAF. Retrieved on 2014-02-04.Results The XXX Olympic Games GREAT BRITAIN & N.I. London, GREAT BRITAIN & N.I. 27 JUL 2012 - 12 AUG 2012 100 Metres - men Heats Summary. IAAF. Retrieved on 2014-02-04. The 2024 men's final was the fastest 100-meter race in history, collectively: all eight men ran under 9.91 seconds.Paris 2024 Men's 100m Final Results https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/results/athletics/men-s-100m/fnl-000100-- The 2012 women's final was, collectively, the fastest women's 100 m race ever: seven of the eight finalists ran 11 seconds or faster for the first time, with Veronica Campbell-Brown becoming the fastest ever bronze medallist with her time of 10.81 seconds and Tianna Madison becoming the fastest non-medallist with her time of 10.85 seconds. Top ten fastest Olympic times + Fastest men's times at the Olympicshttp://www.alltime-athletics.com/m_100ok.htm Men's 100mRankTime (sec)AthleteNationGamesDate 1 9.63 Usain Bolt 2012 2012-08-05 2 9.69 Usain Bolt 2008 2008-08-16 3 9.75 Yohan Blake 2012 2012-08-0549.79 Justin Gatlin 2012 2012-08-05 Noah Lyles 2024 2024-08-04 Kishane Thompson 2024 2024-08-047 9.80 Lamont Marcell Jacobs 2020 2021-08-01 Kishane Thompson 2024SF 2024-08-049 9.81 Usain Bolt 2016 2016-08-14 Fred Kerley 2024 2024-08-04 Oblique Seville 2024SF 2024-08-04 10 9.83 Su Bingtian 2020SF 2020-08-05 + Fastest women's times at the Olympicshttp://www.alltime-athletics.com/w_100ok.htm Women's 100mRankTime (sec)AthleteNationGamesDate 1 10.61 Elaine Thompson-Herah 2020 2021-07-31 2 10.62 Florence Griffith Joyner 1988QF 1988-07-16 3 10.71 Elaine Thompson-Herah 2016 2016-08-13 4 10.72 Julien Alfred 2024 2024-08-03 5 10.73 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce 2020SF 2021-07-31 6 10.74 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce 2020 2021-07-31 7 10.75 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce 2012 2012-08-04810.76 Shericka Jackson 2020 2021-07-31 Elaine Thompson-Herah 2020SF 2021-07-311010.78 Shelly-Ann Fraser 2008 2008-08-17 Carmelita Jeter 2012 2012-08-04 Marie Josée Ta Lou 2020H 2021-07-30 H – time recorded in the heats QF – time recorded in the quarter-finals SF – time recorded in the semi-finals Note: Florence Griffith-Joyner ran 10.54 (+3.0) and 10.70 (+2.6) in the finals and semifinals of the 100 m at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, however, both were over the legal wind speed limit of +2.0 m/s. Best time for place + Fastest Men's times for place in an Olympic finalPlaceTimeAthleteNationGamesDate 1 9.63 Usain Bolt 2012 2012-08-05 2 9.75 Yohan Blake 2012 2012-08-05 3 9.79 Justin Gatlin 2012 2012-08-05 4 9.82 Akani Simbine 2024 2024-08-04 5 9.85 Lamont Jacobs 2024 2024-08-04 6 9.86 Letsile Tebogo 2024 2024-08-04 7 9.88 Kenny Bednarek 2024 2024-08-04 8 9.91 Oblique Seville 2024 2024-08-04 + Fastest women's times for place in an Olympic finalPlaceTimeAthleteNationGamesDate 1 10.61 Elaine Thompson-Herah 2020 2021-07-31 2 10.74 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce 2020 2021-07-31 3 10.76 Shericka Jackson 2020 2021-07-31 4 10.85 Tianna Bartoletta 2012 2012-08-04 5 10.88 Merlene Ottey 1992 1992-08-01 6 10.92 Michelle-Lee Ahye 2016 2016-08-13 7 10.94 English Gardner 2016 2016-08-13 8 11.01 Blessing Okagbare 2012 2012-08-04 Florence Griffith-Joyner ran 10.54 to win the final of the 1988 Olympic Games, but the wind was over the legal limit (+3.0) Intercalated Games The 1906 Intercalated Games were held in Athens and at the time were officially recognised as part of the Olympic Games series, with the intention being to hold a games in Greece in two-year intervals between the internationally held Olympics. However, this plan never came to fruition and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) later decided not to recognise these games as part of the official Olympic series. Some sports historians continue to treat the results of these games as part of the Olympic canon.1906 Athina Summer Games. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-01-26. At this event a men's 100 m was held and 1904 Olympic champion Archie Hahn of the United States won the race. Another American, Fay Moulton, was the runner-up and Australian Nigel Barker was the bronze medallist.Athletics at the 1906 Athina Summer Games: Men's 100 metres. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-01-26. 1906 Athens Men 100 metres Archie Hahn (athlete) USA Fay Moulton USA Nigel Barker (athlete) AUS Non-canonical Olympic events In addition to the main 1900 Olympic men's 100 metres, two further 100 m events were held that year. A handicap race attracted 32 athletes from 10 countries and was won by Edmund Minahan, an American semi-finalist in the main 100 m competition, which had taken place five days earlier.Athletics at the 1900 Paris Summer Games: Men's 100 metres, Handicap. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-03-22. A 100 m event for professionals only was held several weeks later. Four entrants are known and the winner was Edgar Bredin, a British former world record holder.Athletics at the 1900 Paris Summer Games: Men's 100 metres, Professionals. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-03-22.Athletics at the 1896 Athina Summer Games: Men's 400 metres. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2014-03-22. A 100 m professionals handicap race is also believed to have been held in 1900. In 1904 a 100-yard dash handicap race was contested and an American, C. Hastedt, was the victor.Olympic Games (Men). GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2014-03-22. These events are no longer considered part of the official Olympic history of the 100 m or the athletics programme in general. Consequently, medals from these races have not been assigned to nations on the all-time medal tables. Cultural impact thumb|Usain Bolt's 2008 Olympic victory received global media coverage The 100 metres is typically considered one of the blue ribbon Olympic track and field events, and of the Olympic Games as a whole.London 2012 Athletics https://web.archive.org/web/20140208083434/http://www.abc.net.au/news/sport/olympics/sports/athletics/ 8 February 2014 . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved on 2014-01-26. The Olympic 100 m finals, particularly the men's, are among the most popular events from any sport at the Olympics – the 2012 Olympic men's 100 metres final was the most watched event at the London Games by British audiences (with 20 million television viewers)Plunkett, John (2012-08-13). Top 10 Olympics TV events: opening and closing ceremonies dominate. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2014-01-26. while in the United States that event was the third-most viewed Olympic clip.London Olympics on NBC is Most-Watched Television Event in U.S. History . NBC Press Box (2012-08-14). Retrieved on 2014-01-26. The high-profile nature of 100 m Olympic finals in some countries has served to encourage participation in sport among the wider public, particularly in short sprinting. Successive generations of athletes cite previous 100 m Olympic champions as the reason for their entering the sport.Whitney, Susan (1996-07-21). 'GRACE AND GLORY' GIVES GIRLS EXAMPLES OF GOLD. Deseret News. Retrieved on 2014-01-31. The history of the event has had particular impact for African-American athletes: Jesse Owens' Olympic 100 m gold was an early example of a black American achieving success on an international stage while Wilma Rudolph's 1960 win inspired many black American women.Harvey, Randy (1994-11-13). Olympic Legend Wilma Rudolph Dies : Sports: Triple gold medalist who inspired a generation of women's track stars loses battle with brain cancer at 54.. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2014-01-31.Horton, Derrin (2013-02-15). LA Dreamers: Our African-American Pioneers – Wilma Rudolph. KTLA5. Retrieved on 2014-01-31. Owens' 100 m victory at the 1936 Berlin Olympics (one of four gold medals he won over seven days at the games) helped challenge notions of white supremacy that were popular during that era.Jesse Owens. International Olympic Committee. Retrieved on 2014-01-31.2021-07-14 Jesse Owens and the greatest 45 minutes in sport https://olympics.com/ioc/news/jesse-owens-and-the-greatest-45-minutes-in-sport 2021-08-25 International Olympic Committee en 1996 Olympic 100 metre champion Donovan Bailey from Canada had his billing as "World's Fastest Man" questioned by the American media, who instead promoted 1996 Olympic 200 metre and 400 metre champion Michael Johnson from the United States. After much sparring between the two athletes and media of their respective countries, an unsanctioned 150-metre race was held at the SkyDome in Toronto to settle the matter, with Bailey winning while Johnson pulled up injured, and they earned $1.5 million and $500,000, respectively. The Olympic 100 metres has been covered by several film documentaries. Chariots of Fire, a 1981 historical drama focusing on Harold Abrahams' victory at the 1924 Paris Olympics, is among the most prominent. The film won four Academy Awards,Chariots of Fire (1981). The New York Times. Retrieved on 2014-01-31. is often listed among polls for the best sports and Olympics films.,The 50 Greatest Sports Movies. Empire. Retrieved on 2014-01-31.Mitchell, Houston (2012-02-20). The 10 best sports movies of all time, No. 10: 'Chariots of Fire'. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 2014-01-31. and was ranked 19th in the British Film Institute's 100 Best British FilmsThe BFI's 100 Best British Films. British Pictures. Retrieved on 2014-01-31. Wilma Rudolph was a central figure in The Grand Olympics (it La grande olimpiade), an academy-Award nominated documentary about the 1960 Rome Olympics, where Rudolph's 100 m feats earned her the nickname La Gazzella Negra (The Black Gazelle).La Grande Olimpiade (1961). The New York Times. Retrieved on 2014-01-31.Rome celebrates 50th anniversary of hosting the 1960 Olympic Games https://web.archive.org/web/20140219215218/http://www.sportsfeatures.com/olympicsnews/story/47316/rome-celebrates-50th-anniversary-of-hosting-the-1960-olympic-games 19 February 2014 . Sports Features (2010-08-24). Retrieved on 2014-01-31. The 1988 Olympic final, featuring Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis has been the topic of documentaries, including ESPN's "9.79*" from the 30 for 30 series,9.79*. ESPN. Retrieved on 2014-01-31. as well as non-fiction books, such as Richard Moore's The Dirtiest Race in History.Pye, Steven (2013-10-21). Ben Johnson, Carl Lewis and the drama of the Dirtiest Race in History. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2014-01-31. Across the sport of track and field, Olympic 100 m champions have often featured on Athlete of the Year lists. Carl Lewis (1984), Evelyn Ashford (1984), Florence Griffith-Joyner (1988), Usain Bolt (2008) and Elaine Thompson-Herah (2021) were chosen as Track & Field News Athlete of the Year in the year of their Olympic victories.History Of T&FN's Athletes Of The Year https://web.archive.org/web/20110511100602/http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/archive/aoy.html 11 May 2011 . Track and Field News. Retrieved on 2014-01-31. Lewis, Griffith-Joyner, Bolt and Thompson-Herah were also awarded the title of IAAF World Athlete of the Year for their Olympic feats.IAF Athletes of the Year. IAAF. Retrieved on 2014-01-31. See also 100 metres at the World Championships in Athletics List of Paralympic medalists in the 100 metres References Olympic record progressions Mallon, Bill (2012). TRACK & FIELD ATHLETICS—OLYMPIC RECORD PROGRESSIONSAugust 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes . Track and Field News. Retrieved on 2014-01-26. Specific 30em External links IAAF 100 metres homepage Official Olympics website Olympic athletics records from Track & Field News March 2017 Olympics 100 metres