Re: The fastest human on earth?

May 22, 2003

Very interesting points. Charlie Francis has written that the

sprinter does deccelerate towards the end of the 100 m. The key is

to stay relax as possible to limit the amount of decceleration.

Remember the nonsense between Micheal and Donovan .

ran the second 100m of his 200m faster then 's 100m.

That flying start does help. Still it would be interesing to find

man's and woman's top speed regardless of distance.

Tom Rankin CSCS

Rocklin bound,CA

> It occurred to me the other day whilst

in conversation with one of my

> colleagues regarding the 100m sprint, that the actual label of the

> fastest man on earth attributed to the 100m champion is slightly

> flawed: Firstly, the 100m lasts for around 10 seconds, so it is

also a

> measure of speed-endurance as well as absolute speed. Secondly and

> more importantly, the velocity of the sprinter may continue to

rise up

> to 50m into the sprint and beyond, then maintain and then decrease

> towards the last 5 metres or so (in the form of a skewed

parabola).

> So my point is that the fastest man on earth is actually the

> individual that reaches the maximum velocity over the course of

the

> 100m sprint or 200m or whatever, the distance is irrelevant. It

would

> be interesting to know if the current world record holder has the

> highest peak velocity out of all the sprinters, as well as the

> greatest speed-endurance ability.

>

> Do any of you have any comments on this or any more information?

>

> Thanks for your time,

>

> Ben Leach BSc

> London, England

May 22, 2003

Ben Leach BSc writes:

<< It would

be interesting to know if the current world record holder has the

highest peak velocity out of all the sprinters, as well as the

greatest speed-endurance ability.

Do any of you have any comments on this>>

I have time to heartily agree. And would be interested in fastest

acceleration also including to 1 meter, 2,,,,3,,,, -----100 meters.

Jerry Telle

Lakewood CO USA

May 22, 2003

Ben Leach BSc writes:

<< It would

be interesting to know if the current world record holder has the

highest peak velocity out of all the sprinters, as well as the

greatest speed-endurance ability.

Do any of you have any comments on this>>

I have time to heartily agree. And would be interested in fastest

acceleration also including to 1 meter, 2,,,,3,,,, -----100 meters.

Jerry Telle

Lakewood CO USA

May 22, 2003

Here is some information on the subject:

----------------------------------------

Christie, Sports Reporter, Friday, June 18, 1999

The honour of being the fastest man in the world doesn't belong to Maurice

Greene. It goes to the legions of statistical freaks who, like old-time

gunslingers, whipped out their calculators as the U.S. sprinter flashed over

the finish line in Athens.

It took Greene 9.79 seconds to dash Donovan 's old mark of 9.84 from

the record books in Wednesday's sprint. But the figure-Filberts were faster

to compute that Greene's speed wasn't the fastest example of bipedal

locomotion in human history.

In re-igniting the debate over who is the world's fastest human,

mathematicians insist track fans throw away traditional notions about the

100 metres. Broken down in rates of metres-per-second or

kilometres-per-hour, runners of the 200-metre race win hands down over the

100. They spend a greater proportion of their running time at top speed.

" Since 1968, the 200-metre world record man is the fastest man in the world,

not the 100-metre world record man, " says former Canadian decathlete and

fitness guru Bill Gairdner.

" Both runners have to overcome inertia coming out of the blocks, but the

100-metre man has less distance over which to average the slowness. At

longer distances, the fatigue factor sets in. The 200 is thus the only

[competitively run] distance for which the velocity can be greater than the

100. It would be even more pronounced if the 200 were run on a

straightaway. "

Inevitably, a world-class 200-metre man covers the second 100 metres of a

race faster than the 100-metre world record because he's already flying when

he's 100 metres from the finish line. , who blasted the

200-metre world record at the Atlanta Olympics, ran 19.32 seconds: the first

half in 10.12, the last half in 9.20.

's velocity worked out to 10.351 metres per second for the race, or

an average speed of 37.267 kilometres an hour. To be at those standards in a

100-metre, a sprinter would need to run in 9.67 seconds.

Relay runners can also make an argument for being the fleetest afoot.

covered the last leg of the 4 x 100 relay at the Atlanta Olympics in a

stunning 8.95 seconds after Bruny Surin handed him the baton in full stride.

And the amazing Bullet Bob of the United States ran a 100-metre leg of

the U.S. relay in a hand-timed 8.6 seconds at the Tokyo Olympics.

BREAKING IT DOWN

Maurice Greene might have the 100-metre world record, but there is an

argument to be made that 200-metre specialist has run

faster. A comparison of four notable performances:

, 1996 Olympics 200 metres in 19.32 seconds or 10.352 metres

per second.

Maurice Greene, 1999 Athens Grand Prix 100 metres in 9.79 seconds or 10.215

metres per second.

, 1996 Olympic trials 200 metres in 19.66 seconds or 10.173 metres per

second.

Donovan , 1996 Olympics 100 metres in 9.84 seconds or 10.163 metres per

second.

Coburn CSCS

Milpitas, CA

May 22, 2003

Here is some information on the subject:

----------------------------------------

Christie, Sports Reporter, Friday, June 18, 1999

The honour of being the fastest man in the world doesn't belong to Maurice

Greene. It goes to the legions of statistical freaks who, like old-time

gunslingers, whipped out their calculators as the U.S. sprinter flashed over

the finish line in Athens.

It took Greene 9.79 seconds to dash Donovan 's old mark of 9.84 from

the record books in Wednesday's sprint. But the figure-Filberts were faster

to compute that Greene's speed wasn't the fastest example of bipedal

locomotion in human history.

In re-igniting the debate over who is the world's fastest human,

mathematicians insist track fans throw away traditional notions about the

100 metres. Broken down in rates of metres-per-second or

kilometres-per-hour, runners of the 200-metre race win hands down over the

100. They spend a greater proportion of their running time at top speed.

" Since 1968, the 200-metre world record man is the fastest man in the world,

not the 100-metre world record man, " says former Canadian decathlete and

fitness guru Bill Gairdner.

" Both runners have to overcome inertia coming out of the blocks, but the

100-metre man has less distance over which to average the slowness. At

longer distances, the fatigue factor sets in. The 200 is thus the only

[competitively run] distance for which the velocity can be greater than the

100. It would be even more pronounced if the 200 were run on a

straightaway. "

Inevitably, a world-class 200-metre man covers the second 100 metres of a

race faster than the 100-metre world record because he's already flying when

he's 100 metres from the finish line. , who blasted the

200-metre world record at the Atlanta Olympics, ran 19.32 seconds: the first

half in 10.12, the last half in 9.20.

's velocity worked out to 10.351 metres per second for the race, or

an average speed of 37.267 kilometres an hour. To be at those standards in a

100-metre, a sprinter would need to run in 9.67 seconds.

Relay runners can also make an argument for being the fleetest afoot.

covered the last leg of the 4 x 100 relay at the Atlanta Olympics in a

stunning 8.95 seconds after Bruny Surin handed him the baton in full stride.

And the amazing Bullet Bob of the United States ran a 100-metre leg of

the U.S. relay in a hand-timed 8.6 seconds at the Tokyo Olympics.

BREAKING IT DOWN

Maurice Greene might have the 100-metre world record, but there is an

argument to be made that 200-metre specialist has run

faster. A comparison of four notable performances:

, 1996 Olympics 200 metres in 19.32 seconds or 10.352 metres

per second.

Maurice Greene, 1999 Athens Grand Prix 100 metres in 9.79 seconds or 10.215

metres per second.

, 1996 Olympic trials 200 metres in 19.66 seconds or 10.173 metres per

second.

Donovan , 1996 Olympics 100 metres in 9.84 seconds or 10.163 metres per

second.

Coburn CSCS

Milpitas, CA

May 23, 2003

Courtesy of http://run-down.com/statistics/100m_top_splits.php

Men

Reaction Time (RT) Limit: 0.100s

0-10m: 1.70s (Minus RT), Ray STEWART (JAM) '91, ie FREDERICKS (NAM)

'96, Maurice GREENE (USA) '99 & '01, Tim MONTGOMERY (USA) '01; Ben JOHNSON

(CAN) '88 DQ

10-20m: 1.00s, Bruny SURIN (CAN) '99 & Maurice GREENE (USA) '01

20-30m: 0.89s, Maurice GREENE (USA) '01

30-40m: 0.86s, Maurice GREENE (USA) '99 & '00; Ben JOHNSON (CAN) '88 DQ

40-50m: 0.84s, Carl LEWIS (USA) '91, ie FREDERICKS (NAM) '96, Donovan

BAILEY (CAN) '96, Maurice GREENE (USA) '99, Tim MONTGOMERY (USA) '02; Ben

JOHNSON (CAN) '88 DQ

50-60m: 0.82s, Maurice GREENE (USA) '00

60-70m: 0.83s, Donovan BAILEY (CAN) '96, Maurice GREENE (USA) '00 & '01

70-80m: 0.83s, Carl LEWIS (USA) '91 & Maurice GREENE (USA) '00

80-90m: 0.85s, Carl LEWIS (USA) '87 & Maurice GREENE (USA) '99 & '00

90-100m: 0.85s, Carl LEWIS (USA) '84 & Maurice GREENE (USA) '99

Total: 9.47s (9.5s)

Total + RT Limit: 9.57s (9.6s)

Mort

State College, PA

May 23, 2003

One great site:

http://desert.jsd.claremont.edu/~newt/track/splits/

Remember though, that the vast majority of these studies used video

cameras to record split-times or used a combination of video and

high speed cameras. An ordinary video cameras resolution is far to

low for these times to be 100% accurate.

The max velocity in the 200m sprint is in my opinion definitely

lower than in the 100m, even for in his WR 19.32,

but there is very little data out. 's 100m split in Atlanta

was estimated to something like 10.12.

Regards

Hakan Andersson

Sundsvall Sweden

May 23, 2003

Wasn't there a study during the '72 Olympics where they tried to determine who

were the quickest athletes? I always understood that they used a cross section

of athletes from different disciplines, and tested them via short sprints.

Didn't they find by far that the quickest athletes were olympic lifters? Surely

the lifters couldn't run even a 40 meter sprint faster then the 100 meter

sprinters...By quickest did they mean reaction speed? or perhaps starting speed?

That would make sense, but no way could a lifter continue to accelerate to

acquire an absolute speed greater then the trained sprinters.

Does anyone know the history of this study and know exactly what the results

were.

Thanks

Hal Lloyd

Nome AK

May 23, 2003

> Remember the nonsense between Micheal and Donovan .

> ran the second 100m of his 200m faster then 's 100m.

> That flying start does help. Still it would be interesing to find

> man's and woman's top speed regardless of distance.

The flying start more than helps- it makes about a full second

difference. 's splits during his world-record 200m

run in 1996 were 10.12 and 9.20; his second 100m being much faster

than Donovan 's 9.84 100m run. However, recorded a

flying 100m time of 8.86 during the 4x100m relay, so there was never

really any argument.

Gates

Gig HArbor, Wa

May 24, 2003

> It occurred to me the other day whilst in conversation with one of my

> colleagues regarding the 100m sprint, that the actual label of the

> fastest man on earth attributed to the 100m champion is slightly

> flawed: Firstly, the 100m lasts for around 10 seconds, so it is also a

> measure of speed-endurance as well as absolute speed. Secondly and

> more importantly, the velocity of the sprinter may continue to rise up

> to 50m into the sprint and beyond, then maintain and then decrease

> towards the last 5 metres or so (in the form of a skewed parabola).

> So my point is that the fastest man on earth is actually the

> individual that reaches the maximum velocity over the course of the

> 100m sprint or 200m or whatever, the distance is irrelevant.

***This is well understood by most people in the track and field

community; it is simply traditional to award the title of " World's

Fastest Human " (WFH) to the world record holder in the shortest

Olympic distance. While technically inaccurate, it is generally

understood that the title not imply that the holder necessarily has

the greatest maximum velocity.

> It would

> be interesting to know if the current world record holder has the

> highest peak velocity out of all the sprinters, as well as the

> greatest speed-endurance ability.

***According to the IAAF, the fastest speed ever recorded is 27.1

mph / 43.6 kph by Donovan during his world-record 9.84 run at

the 1996 Olympics. Three people have matched or bettered 9.84 since

then (Bruny Surin 9.84, Maurice Greene 9.79, Tim Montgomery 9.78),

but a faster velocity has not been reported.

However, it must be noted that it is not standard practice to measure

velocity in international-level competition. I believe that 's

velocity was not a recording of instantaneous speed, but rather a

calculation of average speed over a particular 10m segment based on

the supposed times recorded at each 10m mark. I question the

accuracy of this data, since it could not be collected accurately

without having a fully automatic timing system placed at every 10m

mark (highly unlikely that this was the case).

Gates

Gig Harbor, Wa

May 25, 2003

Maybe the TV coverage can put a radar gun on the sprinters, like

they do to get the speed on picthes during baseball games. Everyone

likes stats, so what's one more?

Tom Rankin CSCS

Rocklin, CA

> > It occurred to me the other day whilst in conversation with one

of my

> > colleagues regarding the 100m sprint, that the actual label of

the

> > fastest man on earth attributed to the 100m champion is slightly

> > flawed: Firstly, the 100m lasts for around 10 seconds, so it is

also a

> > measure of speed-endurance as well as absolute speed. Secondly

and

> > more importantly, the velocity of the sprinter may continue to

rise up

> > to 50m into the sprint and beyond, then maintain and then

decrease

> > towards the last 5 metres or so (in the form of a skewed

parabola).

> > So my point is that the fastest man on earth is actually the

> > individual that reaches the maximum velocity over the course of

the

> > 100m sprint or 200m or whatever, the distance is irrelevant.

>

> ***This is well understood by most people in the track and field

> community; it is simply traditional to award the title of " World's

> Fastest Human " (WFH) to the world record holder in the shortest

> Olympic distance. While technically inaccurate, it is generally

> understood that the title not imply that the holder necessarily

has

> the greatest maximum velocity.

>

> > It would

> > be interesting to know if the current world record holder has

the

> > highest peak velocity out of all the sprinters, as well as the

> > greatest speed-endurance ability.

>

> ***According to the IAAF, the fastest speed ever recorded is 27.1

> mph / 43.6 kph by Donovan during his world-record 9.84 run

at

> the 1996 Olympics. Three people have matched or bettered 9.84

since

> then (Bruny Surin 9.84, Maurice Greene 9.79, Tim Montgomery 9.78),

> but a faster velocity has not been reported.

>

> However, it must be noted that it is not standard practice to

measure

> velocity in international-level competition. I believe that

's

> velocity was not a recording of instantaneous speed, but rather a

> calculation of average speed over a particular 10m segment based

on

> the supposed times recorded at each 10m mark. I question the

> accuracy of this data, since it could not be collected accurately

> without having a fully automatic timing system placed at every 10m

> mark (highly unlikely that this was the case).

>

> Gates

> Gig Harbor, Wa

May 25, 2003

Maybe the TV coverage can put a radar gun on the sprinters, like

they do to get the speed on picthes during baseball games. Everyone

likes stats, so what's one more?

Tom Rankin CSCS

Rocklin, CA

> > It occurred to me the other day whilst in conversation with one

of my

> > colleagues regarding the 100m sprint, that the actual label of

the

> > fastest man on earth attributed to the 100m champion is slightly

> > flawed: Firstly, the 100m lasts for around 10 seconds, so it is

also a

> > measure of speed-endurance as well as absolute speed. Secondly

and

> > more importantly, the velocity of the sprinter may continue to

rise up

> > to 50m into the sprint and beyond, then maintain and then

decrease

> > towards the last 5 metres or so (in the form of a skewed

parabola).

> > So my point is that the fastest man on earth is actually the

> > individual that reaches the maximum velocity over the course of

the

> > 100m sprint or 200m or whatever, the distance is irrelevant.

>

> ***This is well understood by most people in the track and field

> community; it is simply traditional to award the title of " World's

> Fastest Human " (WFH) to the world record holder in the shortest

> Olympic distance. While technically inaccurate, it is generally

> understood that the title not imply that the holder necessarily

has

> the greatest maximum velocity.

>

> > It would

> > be interesting to know if the current world record holder has

the

> > highest peak velocity out of all the sprinters, as well as the

> > greatest speed-endurance ability.

>

> ***According to the IAAF, the fastest speed ever recorded is 27.1

> mph / 43.6 kph by Donovan during his world-record 9.84 run

at

> the 1996 Olympics. Three people have matched or bettered 9.84

since

> then (Bruny Surin 9.84, Maurice Greene 9.79, Tim Montgomery 9.78),

> but a faster velocity has not been reported.

>

> However, it must be noted that it is not standard practice to

measure

> velocity in international-level competition. I believe that

's

> velocity was not a recording of instantaneous speed, but rather a

> calculation of average speed over a particular 10m segment based

on

> the supposed times recorded at each 10m mark. I question the

> accuracy of this data, since it could not be collected accurately

> without having a fully automatic timing system placed at every 10m

> mark (highly unlikely that this was the case).

>

> Gates

> Gig Harbor, Wa

May 26, 2003

Anyone interested in sprinting or speed development will want to

read Charlie Francis's " Speed Trap " . It also has a good deal of

information about the history and use of drugs in sport. I found it

at my local libary. You may too.

Tom Rankin CSCS

Rocklin, CA

>

> > Remember the nonsense between Micheal and Donovan

.

> > ran the second 100m of his 200m faster then 's

100m.

> > That flying start does help. Still it would be interesing to

find

> > man's and woman's top speed regardless of distance.

>

> The flying start more than helps- it makes about a full second

> difference. 's splits during his world-record 200m

> run in 1996 were 10.12 and 9.20; his second 100m being much faster

> than Donovan 's 9.84 100m run. However, recorded a

> flying 100m time of 8.86 during the 4x100m relay, so there was

never

> really any argument.

>

> Gates

> Gig HArbor, Wa

May 26, 2003

I agree, a radar gun would be best to determine the fastest human on

earth-whether he/she reaches top speed at 30m, 60m, 100m (distance does not

matter).

It is very possible that the best 100 meter sprinter in the world isn't the

" fastest " person on earth - reaction time, start, and ability to maintain speed

determine outcome of race.

I would expect that most world class sprinters reach top speed somewhere between