There was a time when this was one of the biggest questions on people's minds come time to choose. With the impressive time put forth by Usain Bolt of 9.69 over 100 meters, as well as the 200 record and the 4x100, it is hard to argue that he is not the fastest man on earth. Ben Johnson is another who has been talked about when discussing the fastest man on Earth, when he posted 9.79 20 years ago, however was tested for steroids, and failed, thus failing to maintain the record.
The topic I am discussing especially is the former jostling for the title of Fastest Man on Earth. Two men in the mid 90's were fixated on winning that title. Canadian Donovan O'Bailey and American Michael Johnson. The stage for them was set at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta where the two men would compete in their respected lengths. Johnson would compete in the 200m and the 400m, while Bailey ran the shorter, and usually more viewed 100m. They would both easily win Gold Medals in their races.
But who is faster? Bailey would break the record for the 100 with a time of 9.84 seconds while Johnson would break the 200 meter record clocking in at 19.32.
Now obviously Johnson did it faster if you were to look at the 100 meter as half of a 200 meter, but in sprinting, this is untrue. The 100 meter race doesn't give the runners the time to fully reach top speed, thus giving Johnson the ability to his 23mph.
Who knows the speed that Bailey could reach if he had the extra 100 meters to top off his time and velocity. Some would argue that Bailey was only getting faster at the point he crossed the line, and would thus beat Johnson who had clocked out soon after he hit the 200 mark.
Both men would become known as the World's fastest man. Bailey, due to holding the famed 100 meter record, and Johnson for his multiple Olympic golds and records.
Both men would compete in a very hyped race, over the distance of 150 meters. The race at the SkyDome in Toronto became one of the biggest spectacles for sprinting on either side of the border. Unfortunately, the race was faced with a problem at the 110 mark, when Johnson gave up, claiming injury. As you can see in the video, Bailey was clearly ahead of Johnson here in the race, and when Johnson looked over, he pulled up.
[youtube]sryuicuQyR0[/youtube]
So who do you guys think is the faster man? Bailey or Donovan?
The topic I am discussing especially is the former jostling for the title of Fastest Man on Earth. Two men in the mid 90's were fixated on winning that title. Canadian Donovan O'Bailey and American Michael Johnson. The stage for them was set at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta where the two men would compete in their respected lengths. Johnson would compete in the 200m and the 400m, while Bailey ran the shorter, and usually more viewed 100m. They would both easily win Gold Medals in their races.
But who is faster? Bailey would break the record for the 100 with a time of 9.84 seconds while Johnson would break the 200 meter record clocking in at 19.32.
Now obviously Johnson did it faster if you were to look at the 100 meter as half of a 200 meter, but in sprinting, this is untrue. The 100 meter race doesn't give the runners the time to fully reach top speed, thus giving Johnson the ability to his 23mph.
Who knows the speed that Bailey could reach if he had the extra 100 meters to top off his time and velocity. Some would argue that Bailey was only getting faster at the point he crossed the line, and would thus beat Johnson who had clocked out soon after he hit the 200 mark.
Both men would become known as the World's fastest man. Bailey, due to holding the famed 100 meter record, and Johnson for his multiple Olympic golds and records.
Both men would compete in a very hyped race, over the distance of 150 meters. The race at the SkyDome in Toronto became one of the biggest spectacles for sprinting on either side of the border. Unfortunately, the race was faced with a problem at the 110 mark, when Johnson gave up, claiming injury. As you can see in the video, Bailey was clearly ahead of Johnson here in the race, and when Johnson looked over, he pulled up.
[youtube]sryuicuQyR0[/youtube]
So who do you guys think is the faster man? Bailey or Donovan?
