100m World Record Progression Comparison (Men)
Compare 15 mens 100m world records, from Lippincott 10.6 to Bolt 9.58. World Athletics progression data in a linked tool. See bars. Verified now. Verified.
Visual comparison
All values
Click any row to load it as Entry A.
| Name | Value | Context | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lippincott 10.6 1912 Slowest here at 10.6 sec. | 10.6 seconds | 1912 Stockholm, first ratified | World Athletics centenary release: Lippincott 10.6 Stockholm 1912 |
| Paddock 10.4 1921 10.4 sec. | 10.4 seconds | 1921 Redlands | World Athletics progression: Paddock 10.4 Redlands 1921 |
| Williams 10.3 1930 10.3 sec. | 10.3 seconds | 1930 Toronto | World Athletics progression: Williams 10.3 Toronto 1930 |
| Owens 10.2 1936 10.2 sec. | 10.2 seconds | 1936 Chicago | World Athletics progression: Owens 10.2 Chicago 1936 |
| Williams 10.1 1956 10.1 sec. | 10.1 seconds | 1956 Berlin | World Athletics progression: Williams 10.1 Berlin 1956 |
| Hary 10.0 1960 10.0 sec. | 10 seconds | 1960 Zurich | World Athletics progression: Hary 10.0 Zurich 1960 |
| Hines 9.95 1968 9.95 sec. | 9.95 seconds | 1968 Mexico City | World Athletics progression: Hines 9.95 Mexico City 1968 |
| Smith 9.93 1983 9.93 sec. | 9.93 seconds | 1983 Colorado Springs | World Athletics progression: Smith 9.93 Colorado Springs 1983 |
| Lewis 9.86 1991 9.86 sec. | 9.86 seconds | 1991 Tokyo | World Athletics progression: Lewis 9.86 Tokyo 1991 |
| Greene 9.79 1999 9.79 sec. | 9.79 seconds | 1999 Athens | World Athletics progression: Greene 9.79 Athens 1999 |
| Powell 9.77 2005 9.77 sec. | 9.77 seconds | 2005 Athens | World Athletics 100m page: Powell 9.77 Athens 2005 |
| Powell 9.74 2007 9.74 sec. | 9.74 seconds | 2007 Rieti | World Athletics 100m page: Powell 9.74 Rieti 2007 |
| Bolt 9.72 2008 9.72 sec. | 9.72 seconds | 2008 New York | World Athletics 100m page: Bolt 9.72 New York 2008 |
| Bolt 9.69 2008 9.69 sec. | 9.69 seconds | 2008 Beijing final | World Athletics event report: Bolt 9.69 Beijing 2008 |
| Bolt 9.58 2009 Fastest here at 9.58 sec. | 9.58 seconds | 2009 Berlin final, current | World Athletics report: Bolt 9.58 Berlin 2009 |
About this converter
World Athletics progression tables fix fifteen mens 100m world records from 1912 to 2009. Donald Lippincott 1912 holds 10.6 seconds, Charley Paddock 1921 holds 10.4, Percy Williams 1930 holds 10.3, Jesse Owens 1936 holds 10.2, Willie Williams 1956 holds 10.1, Armin Hary 1960 holds 10.0, Jim Hines 1968 holds 9.95, Calvin Smith 1983 holds 9.93, Carl Lewis 1991 holds 9.86, Maurice Greene 1999 holds 9.79, Asafa Powell 2005 holds 9.77, Powell 2007 holds 9.74, Usain Bolt 2008 holds 9.72, Bolt Beijing 2008 holds 9.69 and Bolt Berlin 2009 holds 9.58. Bolt at 9.58 still stands. Hines at 9.95 was the first electronic sub 10. Powell appears twice with two separate records.
How to use it
Pick two marks and the second unit in the top row. The three boxes below stay linked. Change any box and the other two update. Try Lippincott against Bolt 2009 to feel the 1.02 second gap. Times read straight since only one unit exists.
Marks follow World Athletics record progression tables for ratified records only. Hand timed and electronic eras mix in the early rows, with Hines at 9.95 as the first fully electronic mark here. Wind readings sit inside the source tables and all listed marks were wind legal. Bolt at 9.58 reflects the Berlin 2009 final with plus 0.9 wind. No mark past 2009 has beaten it, so the table ends there.
FAQ
What is the 100m record?
Usain Bolt 2009 in 9.58 seconds at Berlin.
What was the first sub 10?
Jim Hines 1968 in 9.95 seconds at Mexico City.
Who appears twice?
Powell with 9.77 in 2005 and 9.74 in 2007.
Are aided marks included?
No. Only ratified records appear. Wind aided marks stay out.
Sources
- World Athletics centenary release and progression: Lippincott 10.6 through Hary 10.0
- World Athletics progression: Hines 9.95 through Powell 9.77
- World Athletics 100m page and event reports: Powell 9.74 through Bolt 9.58
Last verified: 2026-10-08 · 15 entries
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