7 Years After Retirement, Usain Bolt Ready to Race Again to Settle Long-Standing Debate on His World Record

Comparisons are inevitable in sports. And when you’re comparing anyone to Usain Bolt, you’re talking about the very best. With eight Olympic gold medals to his name and unrivaled supremacy in the 100m and 200m events, Bolt remains unmatched even seven years after his retirement. Just a week ago, the fastest man alive shared his intention to come back to the sport with a cryptic message saying, “I wish I could see Usain Bolt run one more time 🥶.” But why he might have said that?

It stemmed from a soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Sociedad in the UCL RO16 return leg. Yes, we are talking about PSG forward Kylian Mbappe running an impressive 10.9 seconds in the 100-meter in that match. Undoubtedly, that is impressive in a soccer arena. But the achievement of Mbappe created a full-blown controversy with a post from BBC in March comparing the two athletes.

“That’s just over a second slower than Usain Bolt’s world record,” they wrote. Track enthusiasts know the value of a second more than anyone else. So they instantly started grilling BBC for trying to start such an illogical debate. Bolt himself chimed in, saying, “I was laughing when I saw it. The girls are running faster than that.” So is that the matter that Bolt wants to settle once and for all? That is exactly what was asked of the Jamaican legend recently.

Ahead of the 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards, on the red carpet event, the question was put to Usain Bolt by MARCA: could he give Mbappé a run for his money? With a twinkle in his eye, Bolt replied, “Right now? Yeah, I can take him.” But when it came to football, the fastest man alive wasn’t as confident. “No, I don’t think I could take him in football,” he admitted with a grin. “But in a straight line, I got him,” the legend reiterated. So where do stand head-to-head?

Kylian Mbappe’s blazing speed on the soccer field is fearsome for any opponent. A report from October 2022 projects him clocking a top speed of 10.6 meters per second, which equates to around 22.4mph. Interestingly, that still keeps him behind Bolt over that distance. Bolt’s world record time of 9.58 seconds at the 2009 IAAF World Championships saw him reaching a staggering speed of around 29.65mph. A 3D simulation of the two in a 100m race Speed Showdown also brings about the same picture. In fact, he wouldn’t be able to defeat Bolt’s top 5 fastest in 100m.

Coming to the soccer player, it is beyond doubt that Mbappe’s speed is more than an average human being. But it keeps him behind several collegiate track stars as well. Let’s take a look.

Where does Mbappe stand among track and soccer stars?

In 2017, Christian Coleman, representing Tennessee, clocked 9.82 seconds in the 100-meter race. Likewise, Bolt’s fellow teammate, Yohan Blake, registered 9.69 seconds in 2012. The picture might look all the more funny to track enthusiasts if we look at the women’s list. With his time, Mbappe would get a 63rd position in women’s all-time 100m list. Notably, Jamaican legends Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Shericka Jackson have personal bests of 10.65s and 10.60s respectively. In fact, some soccer stars in the past have already outclassed Mbappe with their 100m speed.

Former American soccer player Marvell Wynne recorded 10.39 seconds in a 100-meter race, during his college years as a former athletics prodigy. According to a report by ‘Sportster’, Mbappe also trails behind Claudio Caniggia (10.5 sec), David Odonkor (10.6 sec), Theo Walcott (10.6 sec), and Michael Owen (10.8 sec).

Tottenham Hotspur’s Micky van de Ven with his 23.22 mph or 37.38 km/h tops if we sit to make a list for the fastest soccer players. Trailing behind the youngster are Kyle Walker (23.1 mph or 37.31 km/hr) and Luton Town’s Chiedozie Ogbene (22.90 mph or 36.93 km/h). And Mbappe actually is way beyond the top 20 rankings on that list with his speed. Taken all these together, we cannot really blame the World Athletics when it took a tacit jab at BBC for their comparison.

World Athletics trolled BBC on X, sharing a picture of Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce laughing and writing, “10.90? That’s cute.” With Usain Bolt’s latest ambition to see himself race again and this new challenge to Kylian Mbappé, the sports world can anticipate an iconic duel if this contention ever comes to fruition. What are your thoughts? Comment below!