While this particular article is about the human speed limit, focus is on the Olympic 100m gold medal winner, the “fastest man” in the world, Usain Bolt. In 2009, Bolt ran 100m in 9.58s knocking 0.11s off his previous record.

Mark Denny of Stanford University has attempted to calculate if Bolt could possibly go any faster or if he has maxed out the human speed limit. His research involved not only humans but a look at the speed pattern for other animals such as horses and greyhounds. He theorizes that the human power-to-weight ratio is what is responsible for a person’s speed and after a certain level stronger muscles and longer limbs will be negated by the increase in energy required to move a greater load.

Long and short of the story, humans generally increase in speed until they reach a plateau and Bolt is almost there. The fastest he could possibly go is 9.48s for the 100m, just 0.1s under his present record.

Regardless of the speed limit for humans, Bolt must feel good to know that he is only 0.1s away.

A word to Mr. Denny though, most Jamaicans would tend to view the human speed limit as they do the driving speed limit. A value is not the maximum but rather the minimum which they should go…….

photo via berlin.iaaf.org