Running is one of those spectacular sports when literally fractions of a second become decisive in victory. All types of sports require maximum effort from their participants, but in running athletes demonstrate a will to win especially vividly. Running a distance faster than your opponent is a difficult task that not many can handle. Who are they, the fastest people in the world? Let's talk today about the famous runners and their records. Our rating includes athletes who set impressive speed records at different distances: sprinters, marathon runners and middle distance runners.
10. Patrick Macau
Opens a list of the fastest people on the planet Kenyan marathon runner Patrick Macau. In 2010, he was named the best athlete in the world. The future famous marathon runner grew up in a poor large family. Patrick went to school, which was located 8 kilometers from his village. He preferred to overcome this distance by running. Sometimes the boy dined at home, and on such days he ran from home to school and back up to 30 kilometers. Macau began professionally engaged in running in 2005. In the 2011 Berlin marathon, the athlete set a world record by breaking the marathon distance in 2: 03.38. In 2013, his compatriot Wilson Kipsang broke the Macau record.
9. Moses Mosop
Kenyan is at 9th position in the ranking of the fastest people in the world Moses Mosoprecord holder at distances of 25 and 30 kilometers. In 2015, the athlete set another personal record by running the Xiamen Marathon in an impressive time of 2: 06.19.
8. Dennis Kipruto Kimetto
The eighth place among the fastest runners on the planet - at the Kenyan athlete Dennis Kipruto Kimetto. The future record holder was born in a sports family - Kimetto's mother and father were involved in athletics. From early childhood, he worked at his parents' farm. After seeing a compatriot speaking at the Olympics, Dennis Kimetto was so inspired by him that he decided to go in for running and began to combine training with school.
The athlete began his sports career in 2011, and a year later set a world record in running 25 kilometers on the highway. In 2014, participating in the Berlin marathon, he again set a world record, showing the time 2:02:57.
In 2014, Kimetto was recognized as the best marathon runner of the year.
7. David Lekuta Rudish
Athlete David Lekuta Rudishspecializing in 800 meter running, it is in 7th place in the ranking of the fastest people in the world. Rudish got into the big sport thanks to the authority of his father, the Olympic silver medalist. His example was a great incentive for the future champion to start running. The talent of a young runner was noticed in high school, and Rudish got the opportunity to start training with a professional trainer.
At the first competition in his life in 2005, he took second place. The heyday of an athlete’s career came in 2009-2011. At the London Olympics in 2012, he set a world record for 800 meters.
Now David Rudish is 27 years old, and his youth gives him a chance to impress the world with new sports achievements.
6. Zersenai Tades Habtesilas
Sixth place in the ranking of the fastest people on the planet Zersenai Tades Habtesilas. The Eritrean athlete is a five-time world champion in half marathon. He holds world records in the half marathon and the 20 km race.
An interesting fact: the athlete hails from the state of Eritrea, located in East Africa. Athletes of the country have performed at the four summer Olympic Games since 2000. The only bronze medal in the history of Eritrea was received by Zersenai Tades in 2004 in Athens.
5. Kenenis Beyec
In fifth place in the list of the fastest people in the world is a three-time Olympic champion Kenenis Beyec. An Ethiopian athlete specializes in running 5 and 10 kilometers. In 2014, he successfully ran his first marathon. Like Patrick Macau, Beecha went to a school located a long distance from his home. In order not to be late for lessons, he had to run about 10 kilometers on the run. Daily training was not in vain - in 2002, the athlete for the first time loudly declares himself a victory at the world championship in cross-country. In 2004-2005, he sets new world records at distances of 5 and 10 kilometers.
4. Hisham El Herruj
Fourth place in the ranking of the fastest people on the planet is held by multiple world champion and two-time Olympic champion Hisham El Herruj. The famous athlete holds three world records: at a distance of 1500, 1609 and 2000 meters. Hisham el-Herruj was named three times the best athlete in the world. In 2006, he was forced to end his career as a runner due to an injury, but the champion did not leave the sport - now he is one of the members of the International Olympic Committee.
3. Florence Griffith-Joyner
Florence Griffith Joyner ranks third in the list of fastest people in the world. Nobody has managed to beat the world records she set in 1988 in the 100 and 200 meter runs. In 1989, Griffith-Joyner left the big sport, and in 1990 she began heart attacks. In 1998, the athlete died in a dream. Suspicions of using doping were connected with Griffith-Joyner records, but no evidence was found to this.
2. Michael Johnson
Second place in the ranking of the fastest people in the world is occupied by four-time Olympic champion American Michael Johnson. The greatest of the sprinters of the late XX century, he set several world records. The famous athlete stood out among other runners in an interesting manner of running, which his rivals called “ridiculous”. But laughter in the direction of Johnson was heard only until the first victories. And he really ran extremely unusual - the runner raced along the track with his back slightly bent back. Neither before nor after Johnson has anyone used such a running technique. In 1994, the athlete sets the first record in the 100-meter, running it in 10.09 seconds. At the age of 31, the athlete set a new unique record - in 1999 he overcame a distance of 400 meters in 43.18 seconds.
1. Usain Bolt
The greatest runner and fastest man in the world is deservedly called Usain Bolt. He effortlessly sets new world records at short distances and wins gold in competitions. Bolt is a six-time Olympic champion and in the history of sports achievements in Jamaica he has no equal. The great athlete has four world records. Having run 100 meters in 9.58 seconds, he received the nickname "Lightning".