Who Is The World's Fastest Man? The Definitive Answer After Paris 2024

The question "who is the world's fastest man" is surprisingly complex in December 2025, no longer having a single, simple answer. While one legendary sprinter holds the untouchable all-time World Record, a new American champion has claimed the title of the 'Fastest Man Alive' by conquering the biggest stage in sport: the 100-meter final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The title now depends entirely on your definition: World Record Holder, or Reigning Olympic Champion.

The definitive answer is that Noah Lyles is the reigning Olympic 100m Champion, having won the gold medal in Paris 2024, officially earning the coveted moniker. However, the legendary Usain Bolt still holds the World Record (WR) of 9.58 seconds, a mark no one has come close to breaking. This article breaks down the three current interpretations of the title, profiles the new champion, and introduces the challengers who are reshaping the world of sprinting.

The Reigning Champion: Noah Lyles Biography and Triumphs

Noah Lyles, the American sprinting sensation, solidified his claim to the title by winning the most important race in track and field. His victory at the Paris 2024 Olympics cemented his status as the current King of the 100 meters, a title he has spent his career chasing alongside his dominance in the 200m event.

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Noah Lyles Profile and Career Highlights:

• Full Name: Noah Lyles
• Nationality: American (USA)
• Born: July 18, 1997 (Gainesville, Florida)
• Events: 60 meters, 100 meters, 200 meters, 4x100m Relay
• Paris 2024 Achievement: Olympic Gold Medalist (100m) with a time of 9.784 seconds. [cite: 3 (from step 1)]
• Personal Best (100m): 9.83 seconds (prior to the Olympic final, which was 9.79s). [cite: 13 (from step 1)]
• World Titles: Six World Championship gold medals, including a historic trio (100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay) at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.
• Other Olympic Medals: Bronze in the 200m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2024 Paris Olympics. [cite: 7 (from step 1)]
• Early Career: Lyles started his athletic journey as a gymnast before transitioning to track and field at the age of 12.

Lyles's victory in Paris 2024, where he ran a stunning 9.784 seconds (often officially rounded to 9.79s), was the highlight of his career, finally adding the coveted Olympic 100m title to his already impressive collection of World Championship gold medals. [cite: 3 (from step 1)] He is now one of the few sprinters to hold both the World and Olympic titles in the 100m event, a true sprinting superstar.

The Definitive Answer: Three Ways to Define 'Fastest Man'

The title "World's Fastest Man" is not officially awarded by a single governing body for life. It is a media and fan-driven title that can be interpreted in three distinct ways, all of which are relevant in the current track and field landscape.

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1. The All-Time Fastest (World Record Holder): Usain Bolt

Despite retiring in 2017, the Jamaican legend Usain Bolt remains the undisputed fastest man in history. His World Record (WR) in the 100-meter dash is a monumental 9.58 seconds, set at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin. [cite: 1, 12 (from step 1)]

• The Unbroken Mark: No other sprinter has run under 9.70 seconds since 2012, highlighting the seemingly impossible nature of Bolt’s record. [cite: 11 (from step 1)]
• Bolt’s Dominance: Bolt also holds the second-fastest 100m time (9.63s) and the 200m world record (19.19s). [cite: 1, 6 (from step 1)] His top speed during the 9.58s race was calculated to be over 27.8 mph. [cite: 12 (from step 1)]
• The Verdict: If "fastest" means the quickest time ever recorded, Usain Bolt still holds the crown.

2. The Reigning Champion (Fastest Man Alive): Noah Lyles

The winner of the 100m final at the Olympic Games or World Championships is traditionally granted the title of "Fastest Man Alive" for the next four or two years, respectively. Noah Lyles earned this title by winning the Paris 2024 Olympic 100m final. [cite: 3 (from step 1)]

• The Olympic Time: Lyles’s winning time of 9.79 seconds (rounded) was a personal best and a phenomenal achievement in a high-pressure final. [cite: 11 (from step 1)]
• The Context: While his time is slower than Bolt’s WR, it was the fastest time run on the biggest stage of the year, making him the current generational champion.

3. The Current World Leader (Fastest Time of the Year): Kishane Thompson

A third, more technical definition of "fastest" refers to the sprinter who has posted the quickest legal time in the current season. This is where the competition gets even more intense. The Jamaican sprinter, Kishane Thompson, emerged as a massive threat in 2024.

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• The PB: Thompson ran a blistering Personal Best (PB) of 9.77 seconds in 2024, a time that is technically faster than Lyles's 9.79s Olympic gold medal performance.
• The Olympic Result: Thompson finished a close second to Lyles in the Paris 2024 final, taking the silver medal.
• The Verdict: While Lyles won the title, Thompson's 9.77s PB makes him a strong contender for the "fastest man of the year" based purely on time.

The New Generation of Speed: Top Contenders and Rivals

The 100m event is experiencing a resurgence of incredible talent, making the races leading up to the next World Championships and Olympics some of the most anticipated in history. The competition against Noah Lyles is fierce, with several sprinters consistently running sub-10-second times.

Kishane Thompson (Jamaica)

Thompson, born in 2001, has rapidly ascended the ranks, moving from a relatively unknown sprinter to an Olympic silver medalist in a short period. His 9.77s PB is a statement that he is a serious threat to Lyles's reign and a potential future World Record challenger.

Fred Kerley (USA)

The 2022 World Champion and 2020 Olympic silver medalist, Fred Kerley, is a versatile sprinter known for his powerful drive phase. He remains one of the world's elite sprinters, constantly in the mix for major medals. His best time is 9.86 seconds, but his championship pedigree makes him a formidable rival. [cite: 9 (from step 2), 4 (from step 1)]

Ferdinand Omanyala (Kenya)

Omanyala is an African record holder and one of the most exciting sprinters from outside the traditional Jamaican/American powerhouse. Known for his explosive start, he has a PB of 9.77 seconds, putting him in the same elite bracket as Thompson. [cite: 4 (from step 1)]

Christian Coleman (USA)

The 2019 World Champion, Coleman is one of the quickest starters in history. He holds the 60m indoor world record and is a consistent sub-10-second runner, always a threat to win on any given day. [cite: 9 (from step 2)]

The Physics of Speed: How Sprinters Chase the Limit

The quest to find the world's fastest man is a battle against the limits of human physiology and physics. Sprinters are not just fast; they are masters of biomechanics, maximizing power, stride length, and frequency.

The 100m race is broken down into three critical phases:

• Reaction Time and Start: The initial push-off from the blocks, aiming for a reaction time close to the legal limit of 0.100 seconds. A slow start can cost a sprinter the race, regardless of top-end speed.
• Acceleration Phase: The first 50-60 meters, where the sprinter rapidly builds up speed, transitioning from the crouch start to an upright running posture.
• Maximum Velocity and Deceleration: The point where the sprinter hits their peak speed (around 60-80m), followed by a gradual, inevitable deceleration due to fatigue. The best sprinters, like Lyles and Bolt, are those who can maintain their top speed for the longest duration.

To break the 9.58-second barrier, the next generation of sprinters will need a perfect combination of a fast start, an efficient transition, and the ability to delay the onset of deceleration beyond what Usain Bolt achieved. The current crop of athletes, including Noah Lyles and Kishane Thompson, are pushing the boundaries of what was once thought possible, setting the stage for a new era in the race for the title of the world's fastest man.