Usain Bolt, the undisputed king of sprinting, has had another record taken off him.
The legacy of the Jamaican Olympic legend, widely known as the fastest man alive after setting world records in both the 100m and 200m, faces fresh challenges – not just from rising stars, but from a controversial new technology that could reshape the sport itself.
South African Akani Simbine, who claimed silver in the 4X100m relay at Paris 2024, has now clocked sub-10-second 100m times for an incredible 11 consecutive years, surpassing Bolt’s previous record of 10 straight seasons.
Simbine, 31, achieved the feat at the Botswana Grand Prix earlier this month, posting a blistering 9.90 seconds – the fastest time recorded globally so far in 2025.
It’s another blow to Bolt, 38, who also lost Jamaica’s 4x100m relay world record – set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics – after teammate Nesta Carter’s doping violation led to disqualification. He has also lost some of his youth records to up-and-coming stars Gout Gout and Nickecoy Bramwell – and more could soon fall.
A revolutionary ‘super track’ that could redefine athletics could see athletes break his iconic 9.58 100m world record, as well as his 19.19 record in the 200m, both of which were set in 2009.
Developed by Feldspar near Cambridge, this digital ‘smart’ track promises to boost sprint times by 20 per cent, with experts claiming it could enable athletes to run sub-nine-second 100m races, a feat once deemed impossible.
The super track, spearheaded by former sprinter Alvina Chen, integrates sensors for real-time data and offers greater energy return than current surfaces, unchanged since the 1968 Olympics.
British Athletics’ sprints and relays head, Darren Campbell, who joined Feldspar in 2024, calls it the innovation athletics has been waiting for, comparing its potential impact to Formula 1’s technological leaps.
“All of a sudden, nine seconds doesn’t seem crazy,” Campbell said, fuelling debate about whether such advancements undermine the sport’s purity.
Athletes like Uzoh Herbert, who tested the track, describe it as “revolutionary,” noting its softness and reactive push, which conserves energy and enhances speed.
Positive talks with World Athletics suggest ratification is possible, raising fears that Bolt’s records could fall if the track becomes standard.
Critics argue the track could diminish historical records, with purists questioning if technology should overshadow raw human achievement. Despite the controversy, Bolt, who retired in 2017, remains unfazed, even tipping Jamaican Oblique Seville as a potential successor.
For now, the athletics world lies in wait to see if the likes of Noah Lyles or young prodigy Gout Gout could exploit the super track to dethrone the ‘Lightning Bolt.’
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