The Jamaican runner Usain Bolt’s world record in the 100 meters is considered one of the hardest records to break.
In the world of athletics, competitions often come down to thousandths of a second and millimeters when the sport’s biggest stars vie for medals. This is especially true in sprinting, where small margins are often crucial.
However, it was not a close call when Usain Bolt set the competitors aside and established an almost unheard-of world record in the 100 meters for men in 2009, crossing the finish line in 9.58 seconds.
Fifteen years later, the record still belongs to Usain Bolt, and no one has seriously come close to beating it – aside from Bolt himself, of course. The closest any sprinter not named Usain Bolt has come is 9.69 seconds, achieved by both Bolt’s compatriot Yohan Blake and American Tyson Gay.
But if you ask former 100-meter world champion Christian Coleman, we might soon see a new world record. According to the 28-year-old American, several sprinters from the current generation have the potential to beat the lightning-fast time – including himself.
“9.58 is obviously an extraordinary time, but honestly, I feel that many of those competing today are not far off,” he said according to Reuters before last weekend’s Diamond League meet in Shanghai, where he subsequently placed second with a time of 10.04.
This statement gave Danish sprinter and self-proclaimed “sprint nerd” Simon Hansen a good laugh with his morning coffee. The Dane often analyzes races in great detail and is not so convinced that the record is about to fall anytime soon.
“I love the confidence, but from a rational perspective, I think Coleman is talking himself and the others up a bit too much because it’s a long way up,” says Simon Hansen, according to DR.
The Danish sprinter points out that even though Coleman is quick out of the blocks, he lacks the top speed necessary to approach Bolt.
According to the Danish sprinter, the slim hope for a new world record depends on ideal conditions, including tailwind, and as he puts it, “going downhill.”
One reason the record is virtually impossible to beat, according to Simon Hansen, is that Usain Bolt delivered something close to the perfect race when he set the world record.
