Every Olympic cycle, the same question bubbles up: can anyone catch Usain Bolt? At the 2016 Rio Games, Bolt sealed his third consecutive sprint triple, and seven years later, that conversation has narrowed — not because Bolt is running, but because the records he left behind are still the fastest ever run. As of 2025, no human has beaten his 9.58-second 100m or 19.19-second 200m world records, according to Olympics.com. This guide walks through the records, the retirement, and the facts that are too often buried under highlight reels.

Olympic golds: 8 · 100m WR: 9.58s · 200m WR: 19.19s · Retired: 2017

Fast facts

1The athlete
2The records
  • 100m WR: 9.58s (World Athletics)
  • 200m WR: 19.19s (World Athletics)
  • 4×100m WR: 36.84s (World Athletics)
3Career
4Personal
  • Partner: Kasi Bennett (Olympics.com)
  • Children: 2 (Olympics.com)
  • Condition: Scoliosis, flat feet (Olympics.com)

Key insights

  • Usain Bolt is the only sprinter in Olympic history to win the 100m and 200m at three consecutive Games (Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016), according to Olympics.com.
  • His 9.58s 100m and 19.19s 200m world records have stood since the 2009 Berlin World Championships, per World Athletics.
  • Bolt retired from track and field after the 2017 World Championships in London, confirming his exit from the sport he had dominated, as reported by BBC Sport.
  • Bolt was diagnosed with scoliosis and flat feet, but he walked normally and never viewed it as a disability, notes Olympics.com.

Who is the fastest human in history?

Is Usain Bolt still the fastest man alive?

Yes. Bolt holds the 100m and 200m world records, and no human has beaten either mark as of 2025, according to Olympics.com.

Usain Bolt has been retired since 2017, but the title of “fastest human” still carries his name. He holds the 100m world record at 9.58 seconds and the 200m world record at 19.19 seconds, and no human has beaten either as of 2025, according to Olympics.com. He also owns the Olympic record in both events and was part of the Jamaican 4×100m relay team that set the 36.84-second world record at London 2012, per World Athletics.

Why this matters

Great sprinters come and go; the clock does not negotiate. Bolt is the only man to ever stop it at 9.58 and 19.19, and time has not offered a successor.

The implication: Bolt’s records are not just memories; they are the active benchmark for every sprinter entering the sport today.

What are Usain Bolt’s world records?

Bolt’s most iconic records are a pair that have outlived an entire sprint career span.

Event Record Year Location
100m 9.58s 2009 Berlin
200m 19.19s 2009 Berlin
4×100m relay 36.84s 2012 London

These numbers are confirmed by World Athletics, and they have not changed in over a decade.

Bottom line: Bolt’s records are not a memory; they are still the official standard for every sprinter born this century.

Why did Bolt retire at the 2017 World Championships?

Why did Usain Bolt retire so early?

Bolt’s decision to stop after the 2017 World Championships was not made in a single moment. He had said he wanted to leave at the top. In a World Athletics feature, Bolt admitted: “I have seen way too many athletes go back and make their reputation worse.” He described the London crowd’s energy as amazing, but added that the physical side was harder than it looked. BBC Sport captured his farewell phrase: “I’m saying goodbye to everything.”

“It was sad for me to walk away, at the same time the energy I got from the crowd was amazing.”

— Usain Bolt, quoted by World Athletics

Bolt also told reporters that he had seen many athletes return and damage their reputations, which reinforced his decision to stay retired.

Did Bolt’s back condition affect his sprinting?

What is Usain Bolt disability?

Bolt was diagnosed with scoliosis — a curvature of the spine — and flat feet as a teenager. But according to Olympics.com, the condition did not hinder his running; he walked normally and has never used it as an excuse. In fact, Bolt’s unusual combination of height (6’5”) and a long stride was an advantage in the 200m, where his top speed could be maintained when others began to fade.

The catch: His physical traits were assets, not liabilities, in the context of world-class sprinting.

What has Bolt done since retiring?

What is Usain Bolt doing nowadays?

Is Usain Bolt a millionaire?

Since retiring from track, Bolt has not competed in any official sprint event. He briefly explored a career in football, appeared in exhibition matches, and focused on family with his partner Kasi Bennett and their two children, according to Olympics.com. The rumours of a return to the track have repeatedly surfaced, but Bolt himself has not raced since 2017, and his records remain the ones everyone is chasing. Bolt’s net worth is estimated at around $90 million, largely from endorsement deals with Puma and other ventures, per Biography.com.

Fact vs rumour: What’s true about Bolt’s career?

The separation between confirmed fact and internet rumour can be surprisingly simple:

  • Confirmed: Bolt has scoliosis and flat feet. (Olympics.com)
  • Confirmed: He walks normally and has no disability. (Olympics.com)
  • Confirmed: He retired from track and field in 2017. (BBC Sport)
  • Rumour: “Bolt might come back to racing.” — No active return has been registered with any event organiser.
  • Rumour: “Bolt only won because of his height.” — His 200m record suggests the opposite: he was a better 200m runner than 100m runner in terms of margin.

The pattern: Most rumours about Bolt stem from a misunderstanding of how his unique physique contributed to his success.

From Beijing to London: a timeline of Bolt’s career

  • — Wins 100m and 200m at the Beijing Olympics in world-record times. (Olympics.com)
  • — Sets the current 100m (9.58) and 200m (19.19) world records in Berlin. (World Athletics)
  • — Defends his 100m, 200m, and 4×100m titles at the London Olympics, where the relay record of 36.84s was set. (World Athletics)
  • — Becomes the first sprinter to win the Olympic sprint double twice, completing the “triple double” in Rio. (Olympics.com)
  • — Retires after the London World Championships, finishing with a bronze in the 100m and a hamstring injury in the relay. (BBC Sport)

This timeline is sourced from World Athletics’ official profile and Olympics.com.

Could any of Bolt’s records fall soon?

As of 2025, no human has beaten Bolt’s 100m or 200m world records, according to Olympics.com. The 200m record of 19.19 has been called the most unapproachable because it requires a perfect combination of speed, endurance, and technical efficiency. Whether it falls next year or in another decade, Bolt will still be the only man to have run it.

The takeaway

Record-chasing is about patience as much as talent. Bolt’s record is the benchmark, not because it is old, but because it is currently out of reach of an entire generation.

The implication: The next breakthrough will need to combine unprecedented physical ability with near-flawless execution.

Related reading: 【 2025 】 · Steven Gerrard Net Worth, Career & What Zidane Said

Additional sources

worldathletics.org, worldathletics.org, worldathletics.org, worldathletics.org, talksport.com, skysports.com, sportbible.com, datelineuk.co.uk

Frequently asked questions

Is Usain Bolt still considered the fastest man alive?

Yes. Bolt holds the 100m and 200m world records, and no human has beaten either mark as of 2025, according to Olympics.com.

How many Olympic gold medals does Bolt have?

Bolt won eight Olympic gold medals across 2008, 2012, and 2016, spread across the 100m, 200m, and 4×100m relay.

Does Bolt have scoliosis?

Yes, Bolt was diagnosed with scoliosis and flat feet, but he has said it never affected his sprinting. This is confirmed by Olympics.com.

When did Bolt retire?

Bolt retired from track and field after the 2017 World Championships in London, as reported by BBC Sport.

What is Bolt’s 100m world record time?

His 100m world record is 9.58 seconds, set at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.

Why is the 200m world record considered the hardest record?

The 200m record of 19.19 requires a perfect blend of top speed and corner-running ability, and no active sprinter has come within 0.3 seconds of it in over a decade.

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