The 5 Fastest People On Earth Right Now: 2025 Speed Kings And Queens

The title of "Fastest Person on Earth" is a coveted, yet constantly debated, crown. As of late 2024 and heading into 2025, the conversation has shifted from the legendary Usain Bolt to a new generation of speedsters who are setting fresh, incredible records. This article delves into the current champions and all-time record holders, focusing on the recent, electrifying performances at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the astonishing new world records in long-distance running.

The true measure of human speed is not singular; it’s a combination of explosive power over 100 meters, sustained velocity over 200 meters, and incredible endurance over the marathon distance. Below is a definitive list of the individuals who currently hold the claim to being the fastest humans on the planet, based on the most recent, officially ratified times and major championship wins.

The Reigning Sprint Champions: Noah Lyles and Sha'Carri Richardson

The most traditional and exciting measure of human speed is the 100-meter dash. While the all-time records remain unbroken, the current champions represent the apex of speed in the world today. Their recent performances are the freshest data points we have for the "Fastest Man" and "Fastest Woman" titles.

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Noah Lyles: The Fastest Man of 2024

Noah Lyles officially claimed the title of "World's Fastest Man" at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. His victory solidified his status as the current king of the track, even as he continues to chase Usain Bolt's legendary records.

• Full Name: Noah Lyles
• Nationality: American
• Born: July 18, 1997 (Age 27)
• Key 2024 Achievement: Olympic Gold Medalist in the Men's 100m (Paris 2024, 9.79 seconds)
• Top Achievements: Olympic 100m Gold (2024), Olympic 200m Bronze (2024), Four-time World Champion in the 200m (2019, 2022, 2023, 2025)
• Personal Best (100m): 9.79 seconds

Lyles's 2024 Olympic 100m final was a photo-finish thriller, where he beat Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by a mere five-thousandths of a second, clocking a time of 9.79 seconds. This victory cemented his place as the current sprint leader, though he also secured a bronze medal in the 200m, an event where he is a multiple-time world champion.

Sha'Carri Richardson: The Fastest Woman of 2024

Sha'Carri Richardson has emerged as the dominant force in women's sprinting. Her electric speed and charismatic presence have made her a global superstar, culminating in her long-awaited Olympic debut.

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• Full Name: Sha'Carri Richardson
• Nationality: American
• Born: March 25, 2000 (Age 24)
• Key 2024 Achievement: Olympic Silver Medalist in the Women's 100m and Gold in the 4x100m relay (Paris 2024)
• Top Achievements: World Champion in the 100m (2023), US National Champion (2024, with a time of 10.71 seconds)
• Personal Best (100m): 10.71 seconds (set in 2024)

Richardson successfully defended her title as the US national champion in the 100-meter sprint in June 2024. At the Paris Games, she delivered a spectacular performance, winning a silver medal in the 100m and anchoring the 4x100m relay team to an Olympic gold.

The All-Time Speed Records: The Unbreakable Times

While Lyles and Richardson are the current champions, the absolute records for human speed still belong to two legends whose times have stood for over a decade, and in one case, over three decades. These are the times that represent the theoretical limit of human potential.

The Men's Sprint Records (Usain Bolt)

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt remains the undisputed "Fastest Man Ever." His records are a testament to a unique combination of height, power, and flawless biomechanics.

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• 100m World Record: 9.58 seconds (Set in Berlin, 2009)
• 200m World Record: 19.19 seconds (Set in Berlin, 2009)

Bolt's 100m time saw him reach a staggering peak velocity of approximately 27.5 mph (44.72 km/h). His ability to maintain his top speed longer than any other sprinter is what makes his record so formidable and why it has remained unbroken for so many years.

The Women's Sprint Records (Florence Griffith-Joyner)

The women's sprint records set by American Florence Griffith-Joyner, often known as "Flo-Jo," are the longest-standing records in modern track and field. Her times are considered by many to be almost untouchable.

• 100m World Record: 10.49 seconds (Set in Indianapolis, 1988)
• 200m World Record: 21.34 seconds (Set in Seoul, 1988)

Despite the advancements in training and technology, no female sprinter has come within two-tenths of a second of Flo-Jo's 100m record, highlighting the extraordinary nature of her performance in 1988.

The Fastest People Over Distance: Marathon World Records

Speed is not just about the sprint; it’s also about the fastest sustained pace over a grueling distance. The marathon world records demonstrate a different kind of human speed—one defined by endurance, efficiency, and mental fortitude. These records have seen major updates in 2024, making this information exceptionally current.

The Men's Marathon World Record (Kelvin Kiptum)

The men's marathon record is held by the late Kenyan runner, Kelvin Kiptum, who tragically passed away in February 2024. His record, however, remains the official fastest time ever run in a sanctioned marathon.

• World Record: 2:00:35 (Set at the Chicago Marathon, 2023)
• Pace: An average of 4 minutes and 35 seconds per mile for 26.2 miles.

Kiptum was the first person to run a marathon in a time under 2 hours and 1 minute, shattering the previous record and opening up the possibility of a sub-2 hour time in the near future.

The Women's Marathon World Record (Ruth Chepngetich)

In a massive update for 2024, Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich absolutely shattered the women’s marathon world record. This is one of the most significant speed achievements of the year.

• World Record: 2:09:56 (Set at the Chicago Marathon, October 2024)
• Pace: An average of 4 minutes and 57 seconds per mile.

Chepngetich's time was the first women's sub-2:10 marathon, breaking the previous record by nearly two minutes. She achieved this feat in a mixed-sex race, demonstrating an incredible level of sustained speed and endurance that redefines the limits of female long-distance running.

The Science of Superhuman Speed: Biomechanics and Training

What separates the fastest people on earth from the rest of us is not just hard work, but a mastery of biomechanics. Elite sprinters like Noah Lyles and Sha'Carri Richardson optimize the two critical components of sprint velocity: *stride length* and *stride frequency*.

• Acceleration Phase (0-30m): This phase is dominated by maximizing *power* and increasing *stride length*. Sprinters focus on a powerful "drive phase" out of the blocks, keeping their body angle low to push against the ground.
• Maximum Velocity Phase (30-60m): This is where the sprinter reaches their *peak velocity*, which can be up to 12 meters per second (43 km/h) for elite athletes. Success here is a balance between a high *stride frequency* (how many steps per second) and maintaining *stride length*.
• Deceleration Phase (60-100m): Even the fastest sprinters slow down. The key to winning is minimizing the rate of deceleration. Bolt was historically the best at this, which is why his record is so hard to beat.

The training of these athletes is highly specialized, focusing on explosive plyometrics, heavy weightlifting to build muscle power, and fine-tuning their reaction time and rhythm. For marathoners like Ruth Chepngetich, the science shifts to maximizing aerobic capacity, running economy, and maintaining a high lactate threshold to sustain their incredible pace for over two hours. The constant pursuit of marginal gains in both sprinting and distance running is what continues to push the boundaries of human performance.