Who is the world’s fastest sprinter? Recently, a prominent media outlet’s X-handle dubbed Sha’Carri Richardson the fastest woman sprinter. However, X flagged the post as questionable when fans insisted that Florence Griffith-Joyner holds the title of the fastest woman of all time. While there hasn’t been much debate in the men’s division, leaving the X-authority silent, fans remain divided over who is the fastest man on earth: Usain Bolt or Noah Lyles.

The debate intensified after several media outlets proclaimed Noah Lyles as the world’s fastest man. Public perception has since leaned towards the American sprinter, but the reality is more nuanced.

Usain Bolt stands fractions of seconds above Noah Lyles 

As per the World Athletics’ all-time top list, Usain Bolt dominates both the 100m and 200m outdoor track events in the men’s category. His 9.58-second performance at the 2009 World Championships is 0.25 seconds faster than Noah Lyles’ best in the same event. In the 200-meter event, the gap narrows to 0.12 seconds, but Bolt still holds the top spot. Lyles, however, garners attention due to his recent dominance in world championship titles.

At the Budapest World Athletics Championships last year, Noah Lyles claimed the top podium spots in both the 100m and 200m events. However, his times of 9.83 and 19.31 seconds were still distant from Bolt’s records. Until a new champion emerges, Lyles will retain his title as world champion. During his prime, Usain Bolt amassed seven world championship titles in the 100m and 200m events.

Bolt’s 2009 performances, surpassing Michael Johnson’s and Asafa Powell’s records in the 200m and 100m respectively, solidified his status as the fastest man in the world. Noah Lyles has yet to reach these milestones. Additionally, complications arise regarding world-leading times, leaving Lyles’ fans disappointed.

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Revolving around world-leading, Kishane Thompson is not the fastest as well 

As of now, Noah Lyles and his Jamaican rival hold the world-leading times this season in the 100m and 200m events. Does this make them the world’s fastest? The answer is nuanced. Lyles’ time of 19.53 seconds at the US Olympic track and field trials is unmatched in that event, positioning him as the world leader in the men’s 200m for this season. Until someone surpasses his time in 2024, he remains the fastest man in this category. Similarly, Kishane Thompson leads the 100m with his 9.77-second time but isn’t the fastest of all time, ranking ninth overall. Yet, for this season, he holds the top spot.

Thompson’s 9.77-second time places him in the world-leading position for the 100m this season, but he is not the fastest of all time, ranking ninth. Until someone surpasses his time, Thompson is the fastest for this season. These distinctions should clarify the ongoing debates about the world’s fastest man. However, dethroning Usain Bolt as the fastest man ever will be no easy feat, as Bolt himself once remarked.