How Usain Bolt's street sprint created history

How Usain Bolt's street sprint created history

AW
Published: 16th May, 2018
Updated: 3rd February, 2025
BY Jason Henderson

From gun to tape, the Jamaican's 150m in Manchester in 2009 was the fastest race of all time

Measured in miles or kilometres per hour from start to finish, no race has ever been as quick as Usain Bolt's 150m from the Great CityGames Manchester nine years ago.

Statistically, it is the fastest race in history.

His time of 14.35 equates to 23.38mph and it is superior to the world 100m (23.35mph) and 200m (23.31mph) records that he ran at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin later in the same year.

Re-live the race here and read the full story of the fastest race in history in a big feature in the May 17 issue of AW with interviews with people who were there that day, including Bolt himself, plus a statistical analysis by Mark Butler.

» Film - A FilmNova Production with Sky Sports and Can Communicate

AW
athletes mentioned
AW is the UK’s No.1 website, magazine and social media hub for road racing, track and field, cross country, walks, trail running, fell running, mountain running and ultra running, avidly followed by runners, athletes and fans alike.
Copyright © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Sorry we got something wrong

Please fill in this form and help us correct this page.

cross