Who is the fastest man in the world? Current list of best 100-meter times before 2024 Olympics

The world's best track and field stars had to wait a bit longer than most other athletes to get started in Paris, but it's come time for some of them to settle an age-old question: who is the fastest man in the world?

The title was held for quite some time by Jamaica's Usain Bolt, who won gold in the 100-meter in 2008, 2012, and 2016. When Bolt retired, it was Italy's Marcell Jacobs who narrowly beat out USA's Fred Kerley and Canada's Andre De Grasse for gold in Tokyo.

Jacobs is attempting to defend his gold medal in the 100-meter in Paris, but he's not favored. It certainly looks like someone else will be able to definitively call themselves the fastest man in the world, but who exactly that will be is still up for debate.

Here's a look at who the fastest man in the world is right now as the men's 100-meter nears. 

MORE: Event schedule for track and field at 2024 Olympics

Who is the fastest man in the world right now?

Until someone proves otherwise, the fastest man in the world appears to be Jamaica's Kishane Thompson. Thompson is the slight favorite in the men's 100-meter over USA's Noah Lyles, and he has the fastest time (9.77 seconds) of any individual in the 100-meter this year. With that being said, Thompson recently emerged onto the world stage, and an argument can be made that more needs to be seen before he can hold that title.

Thompson wasn't the world's fastest man in 2023 when Lyles, Great Britain's Zharnel Hughes, and USA's Christian Coleman each led the world with a 9.83-second 100-meter time, but Thompson's best 2024 time is decisively better.

Thompson turned 23 in July, so it's little surprise he seems to still be improving. Bolt already made Jamaica proud with three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 100-meter, and Thompson now has a chance to reclaim gold for the nation as he competes against Lyles and the rest of the world's fastest men. 

Kenyan sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala, 28, ran a 9.77-second 100-meter in 2021 but didn't make it past the semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics. He ran a 9.79 earlier in 2024 and is hoping to medal at the very least in Paris.

The debate won't be settled until someone proves it in Paris on Sunday with the world watching. 

Fastest man in mph

Bolt holds the record for fastest running speed at 27.8 mph, and as you would expect, that record has been tough to top. Jacobs was clocked at 26.8 mph when he won the 100-meter at the Olympics three years ago.

Lyles' top speed has been reported as 22.8 mph, though it's possible that mark has increased as his time has improved. There is not as much data on Thompson, who is still more of an unknown compared to many of the world's top sprinters.

MORE: Noah Lyles' schedule at 2024 Olympics

Noah Lyles fastest time vs. world, Olympic records

Lyles might have a claim to the title of fastest man in the world, but his personal best hasn't touched the world or Olympic records yet, both of which are held by Bolt.

Lyles' personal best time of 9.81 seconds was set just 15 days before the 100-meter finals in London while preparing for the Olympics. That's just barely shy of Jacobs' gold medal-winning time of 9.80 seconds in Tokyo three years ago, but it's still a ways away from Bolt's world record of 9.58 seconds and Olympic record of 9.63 seconds.

Adrenaline is powerful. It might be a stretch to say Lyles can seriously threaten Bolt's records in Paris, but a time under 9.8 certainly doesn't seem far-fetched with the energy he will have behind him as he goes for gold.

Best men's 100-meter times in 2024

Here are the fastest 100-meter times run across the world in 2024.