So no skiing. From a standing start over an official distance, no demonstration events. This is what I have so far.
Running
100 meters in 9.58 seconds - speed 10.43 m/s, 23.35 mph.
Skating
1000 meters in 1:05.37 - speed 15.3 m/s, 34.2 mph
Bicycling
250 meters in 15.949 - speed 15.67 m/s, 35.05 mph
I’m surprised that the skaters are so close to the cyclists. Longer distances would favor the bicycle but none of them seem to be standing start.
Chronos
February 17, 2026, 11:35pm
2
To be clear, you want the human to be moving, right? Because there are plenty of sports where a human propels some object much faster than that.
Human Powered Flight
Musculair 1 and Musculair 2 are two human-powered aircraft designed and built by German academic and engineer Günther Rochelt.
Rochelt designed Musculair 1 and completed building it in 1984. His son, Holger, won a Kremer prize in the same year for his flight over a 1,500 m (4,900 ft) triangular course, improving the record to 4 minutes and 25 seconds. In the same year, he set a world speed record at 35.7 km/h (22.2 mph), receiving a second Kremer prize. Later that year, Holger and his sister Kat...
N9IWP
February 22, 2026, 9:33pm
4
The hour record for a human powered vehicle is (depending on who you ask) is probably 57.44 miles:
See note
The International Human Powered Vehicle Association (IHPVA) is a US-based organization dedicated to promoting the design and development of human powered vehicles (HPVs) and the keeping of speed and distance records for these vehicles and bikes.
The IHPVA was founded in 1976 in the USA and was for many years an association of individual members with the publications Human Power and HPV News. In 1997, the IHPVA was reorganised into an international association with national organisations as membe...
Brian
N9IWP
February 22, 2026, 10:05pm
5
Rowing:
There are no world records in rowing due to the huge variability that weather conditions can have on times. Instead, there are world best times, which are set over the international rowing distance of 2,000 m.
Rowing times are strongly affected by weather conditions, and to a lesser extent by water temperature – the majority of these times were set in warm water with a strong tailwind. World best rowing times have also decreased because of improvements in technology to both the boats and the oa...
Converting to MPH is left as an exercise for the reader.
Brian
Chronos
February 22, 2026, 10:13pm
6
I’m guessing that’s with a windbreaking (non-human-powered) vehicle?
dtilque
February 22, 2026, 10:25pm
7
Nope. Although the bikes can and will have fairings for streamlining.
Interesting to note that the emphasis is on the vehicle and engineering rather than the athlete.
Chronos
February 22, 2026, 10:45pm
10
Also interesting to note that the lead designer is also the pilot. Could they achieve even greater results with a world-class cyclist (who isn’t necessarily an engineer)?
N9IWP
February 22, 2026, 11:06pm
11
Yes would be interesting with Pogacar peddling it…
Brian
It looks like someone decided to merge together a light-cycle from Tron and a suppository.
Babale
February 23, 2026, 7:34pm
13
The Fantastic Voyage sequel none of us were asking for