
via Getty
Usain Bolt of Jamaica reacts as he wins the Olympic mens 200m final in a new world record time in the Birds Nest stadium, Beijing on August 20th 2008 in Beijing, China (Photo by Tom Jenkins/Getty Images). An image from the book “In The Moment” published June 2012

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Usain Bolt of Jamaica reacts as he wins the Olympic mens 200m final in a new world record time in the Birds Nest stadium, Beijing on August 20th 2008 in Beijing, China (Photo by Tom Jenkins/Getty Images). An image from the book “In The Moment” published June 2012
It is just special to see Usain Bolt sprinting at the highest level. In an era of dominance spanning for a decade, Bolt captured the imagination of fans with his abilities on the track. Nonetheless, he was also an iconic figure in the sporting world. Thus, when Bolt runs, he blitzes past most of his rivals.
After the 2008 Beijing Olympics, fans imagined how fast he could go after earning two gold medals; and he did just that at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.
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Most scientists believe the world record he set in 2009 won’t be broken. Thus, breaking down some of the minute details in his sprinting style, we look at why he is the fastest man alive on planet Earth.
Explaining the running style of Usain Bolt
With a record time of 9.58, he decimated the world record with ease. That’s the authority he displayed from 2008 to 2016. Significantly, in a video compiled by Discovery Sports, they revealed the secrets behind his running style. They compared his running motion with Tyson, who was right next to him.
There are some notable takeaways. If you look at his ankle, knee, hips, and shoulders during the start, it is in a straight line, compared to Gay’s as he leans forward to generate force. Having a straight body from ankle to shoulder could give him a substantial amount of force while leaning forward takes much effort.
The science behind Usain Bolt’s 100m world record🤩 pic.twitter.com/suasykD7hC
— Eli Kofi🖤🗡 (@eli___k) July 31, 2021
Secondly, the hip flexor stretch is at a maximum rate where he can jump from the blocks to get into his sprinting motion. Likewise, his straight knee that faces towards the finish line can generate an incredible amount of pace.
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Moreover, his second step is relatively lower, allowing him to take quick steps during the race. On the other hand, Gay lifts his leg up in motion, giving Bolt a significant advantage over his rivals.
Getting his start right, he pumps forward with superhuman force to move past his opponents. Having a stride/second rate of 4.49, Bolt moves past in a rapid fashion. As he had a better start while getting maximum output from the force generated, he is almost untouchable. Gay reached a speed of 44.10 km/h after 55 meters, while Bolt reached 44.72 km/h at 68 meters. That’s how important starts are in athletics.
The Cheetah mode
As he approaches the finish line, his fluidic movement is on display while Gay has a tense movement. Feeling the pressure, Tyson Gay’s knees face downwards, mounting to a larger braking effect, that slows down the athlete and requires an insane amount of energy to reach top speeds.
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Usain Bolt’s higher knee lift leads to a smaller braking effect as he flows through the track. You can see how Bolt’s feet just brush the track rather than stamping on it, step by step. There is less force coming down to the ground as his knees work perfectly. While Gay reached top speeds, he started to lose it at the end.

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RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 14: Usain Bolt of Jamaica competes in the Men’s 100 meter semifinal on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Bolt kept on running with the same motion and even when he reached 80 meters, he had a pace of 44km/h while Gay was -0.5 km/h behind him. Even when he reached 90 meters, Bolt went on at 44km/h compared to Gay, who lost 1 km/h in the final stretch. It is just incredible to see the level of detail he has in his training.
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Arguably the greatest sprinting performance in the world, Usain Bolt is a modern-day marvel. The best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be!
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