Usain Bolt — 9.58 seconds

Usain Bolt's 100m world record of 9.58 seconds, set at the 2009 Berlin World Championships, remains unsurpassed after 16 years, and biomechanists suggest it may endure for decades more. He also holds the 200m world record (19.19s) and won eight Olympic gold medals across Beijing, London, and Rio, making him the most decorated sprinter in history. His top speed of 44.72 km/h during the 100m final is unmatched, outperforming #2 Tyson Gay by 0.11 seconds—a margin that is 7% larger than the gap between any other consecutive finishers on this list.