Fastest Runners Team Sports vs. Bolt

From WIFI to restaurant service, speed is impressive. But it is most impressive in sporting occasions when it can make the difference between word champions and silver medals. Sometimes the speeds that some athletes can reach look un-human and impossible, which makes it even more entertaining to watch.

Speed in sports – the decisive factor?

Before reviewing the odds on most sporting events – whether it be sprint events, swimming, boxing NFL, soccer, basketball or something else – most bettors factor in the speed of the athletes taking part to determine how they wager. And that is because speed plays an integral role in the success or failure of individuals or teams.

Of course, speed will not solely determine any sport. Even sprinters win races on a multitude of additional factors, such as reaction time, power and coordination. But if you look back at the most successful athletes across a wide variety of sport, those at the top of their discipline are usually fast when they are in their prime. Don’t take our word for it, as we look at some of the speediest athletes across several sports below.

The fastest runners in sports

1. Usain Bolt (Sprinting)

There is no better place to start than the fastest man to ever live. Usain Bolt still holds world records for the 100 and 200 metre events at 9.58 seconds and 19.9 seconds, respectively. Usain Bolt is an anomaly in the sprinting world due to his tall build. But it was his uniqueness that allowed him to claim gold in both the 100 metre and 200 metre events at three Olympics in a row, a feat which has never been done before and probably won’t ever be done again.

2. Tyreek Hill (NFL)

When sports fans debate the fastest player in the NFL, Tyreek Hill is a frequently mentioned name. The Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver has clocked some impressive sprints close to that of Usain Bolt. He managed to sprint 100 metres in just 10.19 seconds and 200 metres in 20.14 seconds.

You might not be able to get Tyreek Hill fast, but if you want to get quicker over short distances, check out this guide.

3. Gareth Bale (Soccer)

Gareth Bale is one of the most successful soccer players and cements the argument that speed is essential to be a winner across different sports. Usain Bolt was impressed with the Welsh man when he played for Real Madrid and managed to clock a sprint time of 35.7 miles per hour. Some other soccer players are worth mentioning here, such as Newcastle United’s Deandre Yedlin, who also broke 35 miles per hour, and a player named Terens Puhiri, who went viral online for one of his sprints.

4. Carlin Isles (Rugby)

Carlin Isles is a USA rugby player and an undisputed king of speed. He is pretty much uncatchable within the sport and has even registered speeds beyond 37 miles per hour when he gets going. Interestingly, his teammate, Perry Baker, has been recorded sprinting at almost the same speeds.