Whereas many contemplate Usain Bolt to be the best sprinter of all time, his varied world data – and his legacy – are underneath menace because of new know-how that could possibly be launched quickly
Usain Bolt, the undisputed king of sprinting, has had one other report taken off him.
The legacy of the Jamaican Olympic legend, extensively often called the quickest man alive after setting world data in each the 100m and 200m, faces contemporary challenges – not simply from rising stars, however from a controversial new know-how that would reshape the game itself.
South African Akani Simbine, who claimed silver within the 4X100m relay at Paris 2024, has now clocked sub-10-second 100m instances for an unbelievable 11 consecutive years, surpassing Bolt’s earlier report of 10 straight seasons.
Simbine, 31, achieved the feat on the Botswana Grand Prix earlier this month, posting a blistering 9.90 seconds – the quickest time recorded globally to date in 2025.
It is one other blow to Bolt, 38, who additionally misplaced Jamaica’s 4x100m relay world report – set on the 2008 Beijing Olympics – after teammate Nesta Carter’s doping violation led to disqualification. He has additionally misplaced a few of his youth data to up-and-coming stars Gout Gout and Nickecoy Bramwell – and extra might quickly fall.
A revolutionary ‘tremendous monitor’ that would redefine athletics might see athletes break his iconic 9.58 100m world report, in addition to his 19.19 report within the 200m, each of which had been set in 2009.
Developed by Feldspar close to Cambridge, this digital ‘sensible’ monitor guarantees to spice up dash instances by 20 per cent, with consultants claiming it might allow athletes to run sub-nine-second 100m races, a feat as soon as deemed inconceivable.
The tremendous monitor, spearheaded by former sprinter Alvina Chen, integrates sensors for real-time information and gives higher vitality return than present surfaces, unchanged because the 1968 Olympics.
British Athletics’ sprints and relays head, Darren Campbell, who joined Feldspar in 2024, calls it the innovation athletics has been ready for, evaluating its potential impression to Components 1’s technological leaps.
“Abruptly, 9 seconds would not appear loopy,” Campbell mentioned, fuelling debate about whether or not such developments undermine the game’s purity.
Athletes like Uzoh Herbert, who examined the monitor, describe it as “revolutionary,” noting its softness and reactive push, which conserves vitality and enhances velocity.
Constructive talks with World Athletics recommend ratification is feasible, elevating fears that Bolt’s data might fall if the monitor turns into normal.
Critics argue the monitor might diminish historic data, with purists questioning if know-how ought to overshadow uncooked human achievement. Regardless of the controversy, Bolt, who retired in 2017, stays unfazed, even tipping Jamaican Indirect Seville as a possible successor.
For now, the athletics world lies in wait to see if the likes of Noah Lyles or younger prodigy Gout Gout might exploit the tremendous monitor to dethrone the ‘Lightning Bolt.’
