Olympic Medalist Breaks Silence on Usain Bolt vs Kylian Mbappe Comparison, Offering a Different Perspective

During Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League clash against Real Sociedad, Kylian Mbappe, a French footballer known for his dribbling, electrifying speed, and finishing, ran 100m in 10.90 seconds. This time Kylian Mbappe was recently compared to one of the greatest sprinters of all time, Usain Bolt, the 8x Olympic gold medalist in 100m and 200m. That started almost an online revolution.

Track enthusiasts did not take it lightly when the 9.58-second world record of Bolt was put into comparison with Mbappe’s 10.9 seconds. Many pointed out the fact that it is actually an invalid comparison since in sprinting fractions of second changes the fate. Along similar lines, more points of view started pouring in. Now Olympic silver medalist Fitzroy Dunkley has added to that.

Does the Usain Bolt-Mbappe speed comparison stand?

Fitzroy Dunkley took to his X handle to post a clip of the Women’s 100m final of WAC, that features stars like Sha’Carri Richardson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Pointing out the timing, Dunkley wrote, “Track & Field attracts the fastest athletes in the world and is considered the standard for speed in sports. Other sports fans should watch these athletes in action! For instance, a time of 10.9 seconds in last year’s 100m women’s finals would have only placed 5th.” Let us take a look at the numbers Dunkley was speaking of.

In that coveted race at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Sha’Carri Richardson had the last smile with a record time of 10.65s. Jamaican star Shericka Jackson came second with 10.72s. Whereas Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce with 10.77s claimed the bronze. Understandably, Mbappe’s time would not have brought him a podium finish. As Dunkley said, he would have slipped to the fifth place since in the 4th place stood Marie-Josée Ta Lou (10.81) followed by Julien Alfred (10.93). Interestingly, alongside Dunkley, the legend himself spoke almost along the same line.

Usain Bolt ‘laughing’ off the discussion

The dominant name in the track and field industry, Usain Bolt, could not stay away from the discussion for long. Dismissing the no-base opinion, the most naturally gifted world athlete replied, “I know I was laughing when I saw it. The girls are running faster than that (10.9).” While only three sprinters, including Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, and Tyson Gay, to date, have run under the 9.70 seconds, Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson-Herah, who is a 5x Olympic champion and popularly known as the fastest woman alive, shows a 10.54s 100m best. With this spotlight once again, turns to Bolt’s impeccable career records.

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Bolt is the only sprinter to win Olympic 100 m and 200 m titles at three consecutive Olympics (2008, 2012, and 2016). Alongside, he won consecutive World Championship 100 m, 200 m and 4 × 100 meters relay gold medals from 2009 to 2015. To top it, Bolt is one of the most successful in the 100 m being the first person to run sub-9.7s and sub-9.6s. This episode once again brings up the question: can anyone ever grow to the extent of Bolt?

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