Top 10 Best Sprinters of All Time

Sprinting is one of the world’s oldest sports, with origins that can be traced back to ancient Olympic Greek. From breath-catching moments to last-minute surprises, this awe-inspiring sport has been stunning viewers for centuries. It is time for us to weigh in on the greatest sprinters of all time who have revolutionised the activity forever, from chasing records to winning medals and affecting sports betting odds.

What Makes a Sprinter Truly Great?

With seemingly superhuman abilities, sprinters have dominated the tracks and redefined speed. What exactly makes them appealing enough to affect the odds of online sports betting sites like Betiton? Here’s a breakdown.

The Science Behind the Speed

Behind the short bursts of speed and eye-catching records hides a great deal of science. Here are some of the major factors that affect the best athletes’ speed.

• Reaction Time: This refers to how quickly the player reacts to the starting signal. This directly affects athletes' running time, as a slower start could mean lagging during the race.

• Muscle Composition: Athletes with lean body mass are more agile and fare better at endurance races. 

• Sprinting Biomechanics: These refer to variables such as technique, muscle structure, and force production.

• Modern Training Techniques: Experienced athletes incorporate the most modern and best sprinting techniques such as interval training, plyometrics, and drills.

Breaking Records and Setting Standards

Historically, athletes reaching milestones such as the sub-10 second 100m represent significant advancements in the world of sprinting. These milestones are recorded under strict regulations to ensure fairness, with official timekeepers using automatic timing and photo-finish systems. These records inspire both fans and other athletes to keep sprinting.

Top 10 Best Sprinters in the World

Here’s a closer look at the best and fastest sprinters of all time. Check out how they compare to each other. We’ve included one bonus name.

Usain Bolt - The Fastest Man in History

Usain Bolt is not just the best Jamaican sprinter, but the best worldwide! With eight Olympic gold medals and world records in the 100m and 200m races, he has influenced sprinting in innumerable ways. He is arguably the greatest sprinter of all time. Bolt has a 100m personal best of 9.58 seconds.

Carl Lewis - The Versatile Champion

Carl Lewis is among the best American sprinters, holding world records in 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. In addition, he held world records in the long jump: 8.87 in Tokyo, 1991. This champion has 10 Olympic medals, 9 of which are gold. Lewis’s 100m personal best is 9.86 seconds.

Jesse Owens - A Symbol Beyond Sport

With his historic achievements, Jesse Owens is a symbol beyond sport. He won four gold medals in Nazi Germany and was seen as an important character in the advancement of racial equality. Jesse Owens has a 100m personal best of 10.2 seconds.

Florence Griffith-Joyner - The Speed Queen

Griffith-Joyner’s impact on sprinting can never be erased. The American athlete still holds the women’s world record for the 100m (10.49 seconds), her personal best. In addition, she holds the record for the 200m (21.34 seconds).

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce - The Consistent Force

Fraser-Pryce is an eight-time Olympic medalist and is widely regarded as one of the best female sprinters of all time! She is the third-fastest woman in the world, with a 100m personal best of 10.6 seconds.

Justin Gatlin - Longevity and Power

Justin Gatlin beats the odds when it comes to longevity and power. He held a world record in the 100m sprint of 9.76 seconds. His secret to longevity is ‘listening to his body and not thinking too much about life on the track’.

Michael Johnson - Sprinting Redefined

Johnson is a sprinting powerhouse, particularly in the 200m and 400m events. He has set new standards for speed and endurance, which is obvious with his four gold medals. For the 100m sprint, his personal best is 10.09 seconds.

Yohan Blake - The Beast in Bolt’s Shadow

If anyone could beat Bolt’s record, it would be Blake. He actually came close to beating it, with a 100m personal record of 9.69 seconds. This makes him the second fastest man alive, after Bolt. His drive and training were so intense that Bolt dubbed him The Beast. He has four Olympic medals to his name: two gold and two silver.

Elaine Thompson-Herah - The Modern Denominator

Thompson-Herah dominated the 100m and 200m sprint tracks, earning the nickname The Modern Denominator. She was dubbed this after her historic triple win at the 100m, 200m, and 4x100 Olympic competitions, the first woman to achieve this after Florence Griffith-Joyner and Usain Bolt. Thompson-Herah holds the Olympic record for the 100m relay (10.61 seconds). Her personal best stands at 10.54 seconds.

Donovan Bailey - Sprint King of the 90s

Donovan Bailey dominated the 90s, becoming the first Canadian sprinter to break the 10-second record barrier in the 100m. He held the title of the world’s fastest man for a few years with his 9.8 second mark in the 100m sprint. Bailey retired from athlete sprinting in 2001, but not without bagging two Olympic gold medals.

Bonus: Ivet Lalovo-Collio - The Fastest White Woman

Honourable mention is Ivet Lalovo-Collio, the fastest white woman in the world. Although she is thirteenth on the general leaderboard, Lalovo-Collio previously held the Bulgarian records for 100m and 200m sprints. Her personal bests for these relays are 10.77 seconds and 22.32 seconds respectively.

Athletics in the World of Sports Betting

Athletics represents a huge market in online sports betting. Bookmakers allow punters to bet on a variety of events, from the biggest international championships to more niche competitions. One of the most popular betting markets is bet on winner. However, you will find other markets such as time thresholds and head to heads. 

If you want to start betting on athletics, you have to consider several factors. One of these is the odds, determined by athletes’ performance and form. In the following sections, we have detailed more of the factors that affect athletic odds when you are betting online.

Factors that Influence a Sprinter’s Odds

When it comes to online betting, as a rule of thumb, athletes who perform best have the lowest odds. Find out more about how bookmakers set the odds for events.

Sprint Stats and Timing

In the wonderful world of sprinting, timing is one of the major defining factors for a sprinter. Here’s a look at how sprinters’ timing and stats affect their athletics betting odds.

• Personal bests (PB) and consistency are some of the most defining factors. A sprinter’s form is assessed by how they have performed during past events, and their previous personal best records.

• Reaction times at the start affect the sprinter’s overall performance. Sprinters with quick reaction times tend to fare well during the race, and as a result, usually have lower odds.

• Historical performance data is also taken into consideration. How well sprinters have been performing from the start of their careers, especially at big events, affect their odds at bookmakers.

Track Conditions and Event Variables

In sprinting, factors like weather (wind, temperature), lane assignments, and altitude can all impact race outcomes. High-altitude venues often see faster times, while certain lanes or adverse weather may affect performance. The venue’s track surface and history of fast times are also important to consider.

Here are factors to consider before you start betting online:

• Review athlete form and injury updates.

• Note the track surface and current weather conditions.

Compare odds across legal betting platforms for the best value.