Donovan Bailey — 9.84 seconds

Donovan Bailey’s 9.84 seconds at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics remains a benchmark for explosive speed, winning gold in one of the most electrifying 100m finals ever. His maximum velocity reached 27 mph over 10 meters between 60m and 70m, a split that still ranks among the fastest ever recorded. This top-end speed outperforms #10 Carl Lewis’s best split by 0.2 mph, underscoring Bailey’s raw acceleration.