Usain Bolt’s 100-metre dash world record may be beaten this year, in response to an skilled.
Bolt, now 39, set the present 100m record (9.58 seconds) on the 2009 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Berlin, the place he additionally set the present 200m record of 19.19 seconds.
Since then, many have tried, and all have did not run quicker than the eight-time Olympic gold medallist, together with present Olympic champion Noah Lyles, who boasts a private better of 9.79 seconds, achieved on the 2024 Paris Games.
Meanwhile, a number of others, equivalent to Bolt’s fellow Jamaicans Oblique Seville and Kishane Thompson, have additionally recorded lightning-quick instances of 9.77 seconds.
And whereas no human has damaged Bolt’s almost 16-year-old 100m record, human-like robots might quickly be capable of replicate the Jamaican’s dash time.
According to the founder and CEO of Unitree Robotics, Wang Xingxing, humanoid robots will quickly run the 100-metre distance in below 9.58 seconds.
“In a few months, by around mid-year, humanoid robots globally — especially in China — may run faster than humans,” Wang mentioned on the Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum final month. “Their 100-metre sprint times could drop below 10 seconds.”
Usain Bolt set the present 100m world record in Berlin again in 2009 (Credit:Getty)
What is a humanoid robotic?
A humanoid robotic is a human-like machine designed to resemble the human physique, with limbs, a head and ft.
Their design and use of synthetic intelligence enable them to navigate uncommon terrain, equivalent to stairs, not like earlier robots.
Humanoids are set to be utilized in warehouses, building websites and even emergency response as soon as the expertise is sufficiently developed, with China main the best way in world improvement.
But is Bolt fearful {that a} human may quickly higher his information with tremendous spikes and even tremendous tracks, all posing threats to his record?
Speaking to ESPN in 2025, the Jamaican mentioned: “No, I’m not worried.
“I think the talent is there; there will be talented athletes coming up, and they will do well. But at this present moment, I don’t see any athlete able to break the record, so I’m not worried.”
One man who has been tipped to run Bolt’s information shut is Australia’s Gout Gout.
The 18-year-old has already recorded spectacular instances at junior stage and likewise equalled the quickest authorized 100m run by an Australian on residence soil, clocking 10.00 seconds (+0.9) in his first race of 2026 again in February.
“It’s always easier when you’re younger,” Bolt mentioned of Gout Gout final year. “The transition from juniors to seniors is always tougher. It’s all about getting the right coach and the right people around you.”
But who else has Bolt backed to presumably break his record?
Speaking to The Fix Podcast in 2025, the Jamaican backed Seville as the person who may lastly break his record.
“I feel like Oblique can do it [break my record],” mentioned Bolt. “If he can stay fit during the season and get it right, I feel he can do it. Because I am sure there is something there — the ability to do it.
“Some of the time Oblique can be fragile. It’s a matter of the work situation or whatever, but if he’s doing enough work, he can do it.”
