Who is the fastest person in the world? It's no easy answer, but Usain Bolt's records stand tall.

• Usain Bolt, a Jamaican athlete born in 1986 in Montego Bay, is the fastest person in the world.
• Usain Bolt holds world records in the 100-meter and 200-meter Olympic sprints.
• Tyson Gay is considered the second fastest person with a 200-meter time of 19.58 seconds.

The Olympic Games conduct sports like hockey, basketball and archery, where top athletes in nations across the globe compete to become the best of the best. Among the most popular of these competitions is track and field, particularly sprinting, where men and women race to determine who is the fastest among them.

During these intense contests, world records may be set by athletes at the pinnacle of their sport. Olympic sprints are no stranger to this phenomenon.

Who is the fastest person in the world? Does Usain Bolt continue his reign?

Who is the fastest person in the world?

Usain Bolt, a Jamaican athlete born in 1986, is the fastest person in the world. According to Britannica, Bolt won Olympic gold medals in the 100-meter and 200-meter races for three straight Olympic games. He set the world record in the 100 meters with a run of 9.58 seconds in 2009 at the IAAF World Championships, according to Olympics.com.

Usain Bolt also holds the world record for the men’s 200-meters at 19.19 seconds set at the 2009 Berlin World Championships. This beat the previous 200-meter record, also held by Bolt, of 19.30 seconds at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, he won gold at 100 and 200 meters and in the 4x100-meter relay, something he also did at the London and Beijing Games to give him a "triple triple." He became the first athlete to earn gold medals in two different individual sprints across three consecutive Olympics.

Bolt retired in 2017 from athletics after injuring his hamstring, Britannica said.

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What are the fastest 100-meter times?

As mentioned previously, Usain Bolt has the fastest 100-meter time of 9.58 seconds, set in 2009, according to World Athletics. The second fastest 100-meter sprinter is Tyson Gay, an American runner who ran 9.68 seconds in 2008.

Obadele Thompson, Yohan Blake and Andre De Grasse all tie for third-fastest 100-meter sprint time at 9.69 seconds. 

The fourth-fastest 100-meter time in the world was set by Asafa Powell at 9.72 seconds in 2008. The fifth-fastest time is 9.74 seconds, held by Richard Thompson and Justin Gatlin.

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How can you run faster?

Running faster can be a grueling task to undertake, but it’s made easier by following a guide while using the correct technique. Healthline has a list of 25 tips for general, beginning, intermediate and advanced runners.

Among the general tips, Healthline recommends runners eat well and stay hydrated to be at their body’s peak. Runners should improve their technique, as well as dress appropriately with lightweight clothing and running shoes.

The beginner tips advise readers to increase their activity to better accustom their body to running. You can also join an exercise group with like-minded members as a source of “motivation, competition, and encouragement.”

Intermediate runners should focus on more specialized activities, like hill sprints, endurance runs and lateral exercises.

Healthline recommends advanced runners and sprinters pursue more specific goals and competitions as they further their abilities.

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