# Fastest Person on Earth? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 9, 2001, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653 "2001-08-09T20:11:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Akatsukami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea666f/32.png) [@Akatsukami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akatsukami)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2001, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653/21 "2001-08-11T16:45:55Z")
The fastest man on earth was Moses. Many are of the opinion that Adam was the fastest man on earth, as he was first in the human race. However, Moses could have easily beaten him, had not the Lord told him to come fo(u)rth. (N.B.: Any resemblance between this post and an actual attempt to answer the OP is purely coincidental and wholly unintended.) ---
**Author:** ![tsunamisurfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@tsunamisurfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsunamisurfer)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2001, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653/22 "2001-08-11T21:34:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\*“The Fastest Man on Earth” _could_ be measured all kinds of ways, but it’s not. It’s an honorary title, given to the man who wins the 100m dash. > > Unless, of course, he’s not American. Then some of you will try to go through twists and flips to come up with a way to get the title taken away from the rightful holder and given to an American. \*\* Sam, Sam, Sam. What’s going on with you, man? As far as I can tell (by reading earlier posts), you’re the _only_ one who gives a hoot about nationality re: 100-meter dash. only the slimmest margin of Americans give a flip about the “fastest man” title. It simply doesn’t register. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2001, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653/23 "2001-08-11T21:46:43Z")
The number of Americans who got really worked up over who was faster: Michael Johnson or Donovan Bailey, was a pretty small number of people. Most of them lived in Eugene, Oregon I think. People in the U.S. watch track every four years when NBC deigns to show us some tape of an event at the Olympics. The final days of the World Track and Field Championships are this weekend in Edmonton. Plenty of good seats available. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2001, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653/24 "2001-08-11T23:30:35Z")
Just a couple of points: Carl Lewis’ performance in the 4x100 leg came with a running start for his leg. There’s no telling how he’d have done that day with a standing (well, crouching) start - but probably not a world record. Re Canadian sprinters: Ben Johnson, for instance, was hailed in Canada as a great Canadian. Then his drug test came up dirty. After that, Canadians seemed to call him a “Jamaican immigrant”. Not criticizing anyone there; it’s just natural. Donovan Bailey and Bruny Surin are also immigrants, I believe. **Sam Stone** , are you going clarify that remark about “[us] Americans acting like boors”, or just let the impression it formed sit there and ferment? You seemed to be referring to the staged, farcical 150M Bailey-Johnson race, and are implying further that Johnson (only 1 of 250 million of us, btw) actually faked an injury. Is that what you’re saying? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2001, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653/25 "2001-08-11T23:32:26Z")
Oh yes, if one is looking for highest instantaneous speed, one can probably do no better than to look for the current dominant sprinter in the shortest event, the 100M. That person will have done the most training for highest speed over a distance short enough that aerobic activity is irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653/26 "2001-08-12T00:31:32Z")
Okay, clearly not all Americans feel that way, or even the majority. And maybe it’s even a tiny minority. But the American _media_ sure did. This is probably one of those issues where you guys wouldn’t notice it because it’s just one small issue in a sea of them, but to Canadians, it was front-page news, and the debate raged for months. And even if the percentage of Americans who cared was small, it was still a huge number to us because you’re 10 times the size of us in the first place. And our media, in search of news, no doubt went out of its way to find Americans who feel that way. So for a long time we were pelted with commentary by the American media to the effect hat Johnson was the fastest man alive, and an never-ending stream of man-in-the street interviews with Americans who said it was obvious that the title belonged to Johnson because he ran his second leg faster than Bailey’s 100m time. And let’s not forget what a spectacle their big race was. It wouldn’t have been if the issue had not been in the public news in your country and ours. But I would like to apologize for the ‘you Americans’ crack. That’s exactly the kind of stuff I hate, and like I said in my first message, this whole issued annoyed me precisely because I spend a lot of my time in Canada defending Americans and the United States, because I think you have a great country. So I was doubly annoyed at this issue, because it gave legitimate fodder to my own opponents in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![tsunamisurfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@tsunamisurfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsunamisurfer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653/27 "2001-08-12T00:57:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\* > But I would like to apologize for the ‘you Americans’ crack. That’s exactly the kind of stuff I hate, and like I said in my first message, this whole issued annoyed me precisely because I spend a lot of my time in Canada defending Americans and the United States, because I think you have a great country. So I was doubly annoyed at this issue, because it gave legitimate fodder to my own opponents in Canada. \*\* We understand completely, Sam. You’re country has so much to be proud of and can now claim a new generation of sprinters who compete at the highest level. No hard feelings whatsoever. Oh, by the way, prepare for an all-out coordinated attack of your puny little country. We will kick your ever lovin’ #\*$%&@Q! (smile, Sam!) ---
**Author:** ![warmgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecccb3/32.png) [@warmgun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/warmgun)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653/28 "2001-08-12T01:38:18Z")
T…I actually burst out laughing at that. Sorry, Sam, really but you gotta admit…that was funny… ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653/29 "2001-08-12T01:45:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cerowyn \* > \*\*The “fastest person on Earth” could be taken to mean the human who achieved the highest instantaneous speed. That was the argument that Bailey supporters used to contradict Johnson’s claim that he was the fastest human (Bailey achieved a higher speed than Johnson did). I suspect that the 100 m sprinters will almost always hold that distinction, and I’m sure Greene holds that title now (it’s obviously not _necessary_ for the world record holder to also have achieved the highest speed, but it’s likely). \*\* Actually, it might still be Bailey. Although Greene has knocked his record off the books, Bailey was a slower starter, and tended to win races by exploding past the pack from 50m on out. If you watch a tape of Bailey’s 9.84 race in Atlanta, he is actually trailing the pack right up to 40m, and was in seventh place a good 30-40 metres into the race. He then just suddenly laucnhes forward, blowing by everyone else in the second half. Greene is a much better starter than Bailey, and grabs the lead early when he wins. He gets off the blocks faster and accelerates quicker than Bailey did, giving him the slightly better times. You’ll never see him fall behind early the way Bailey used to. However, with that amazing midrace burst, I believe that Donovan Bailey, at about 55m, was running faster in his gold medal run in 1996 than any human being ever has. At least for now. 🙂 The Michael Johnson comparison doesn’t make sense to me; Johnson is a magnificent runner but in terms of raw speed he is well short of Maurice Greene, Bailey, and probably two dozen other sprinters; if he tried to make the Olympics running the 100m he might not even make the U.S. team. His thing is sustaining speed over medium distances, and he does it better than anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653/30 "2001-08-12T03:02:31Z")
C’mon, tough guys. We’re ready for you. Forget that burning the White House stuff - if you try to invade us we will simply force you to watch our television programs, and make you watch us drink our beer while offering you all the American Bud Light you want to drink. After that, if you’re not simpering and begging us to allow you to surrender, we pull out the big guns - Unbeknownst to you Americans, our border is lined with giant hidden speakers. We will turn them up, and force you all to listen to Celine Dion 24 hours a day until you capitulate. You don’t have a chance. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653/31 "2001-08-12T04:08:59Z")
\ **Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653/32 "2001-08-12T04:16:13Z") > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\* After that, if you’re not simpering and begging us to allow you to surrender, we pull out the big guns - Unbeknownst to you Americans, our border is lined with giant hidden speakers. We will turn them up, and force you all to listen to Celine Dion 24 hours a day until you capitulate._\* I heard about this. It’s called the National Bristle Defense. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653/33 "2001-08-12T05:24:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > **After that, if you’re not simpering and begging us to allow you to surrender, we pull out the big guns - Unbeknownst to you Americans, our border is lined with giant hidden speakers. We will turn them up, and force you all to listen to Celine Dion 24 hours a day until you capitulate.** The use of Celine Dion in warfare is specifically outlawed in the Geneva Conventions, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![tsunamisurfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@tsunamisurfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsunamisurfer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653/34 "2001-08-12T12:59:23Z")
Of course, you Canadians gave up “Second City TV,” which was outstanding. That said, John Candy was rather slow in the 100 and Eugene Levy sucked. [hijack]The record times we see today in the 100 are the result of superior athleticism, yes. But you also must factor in performance-enhancing drugs, growth hormones, and tracks that are designed to assist sprinters/runners in breaking world records. Ben Johnson was caught cheating only because the anabolic steroid he used was easily detected. Not so others. Obviously 1920s sprinters Harold Abrams or Charlie Paddock would be no match for today’s crop, but then they had none of the cited advantages and ran on cinder tracks; their times today might have broken 10 seconds, who knows? Same with Jesse Owens. I would wager that had Owens every advantage that today’s sprinters have–plus sponsorship and world-class training–he might have been competitive with most of them.[/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![tsunamisurfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@tsunamisurfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsunamisurfer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653/35 "2001-08-12T13:01:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tsunamisurfer \* > **Of course, you Canadians gave up “Second City TV,” which was outstanding. That said, John Candy was rather slow in the 100 and Eugene Levy sucked.** Correction: that should read: you Canadians gave us “Second City” TV… ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653/36 "2001-08-12T18:11:53Z")
The fastest man on Earth is The Flash. The fastest man on Earth II is also The Flash, but it’s a different Flash. Unless DC retconned them into the same person while I wasn’t paying attention. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2001, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653/37 "2001-08-12T18:19:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tsunamisurfer \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by tsunamisurfer \* > > **Of course, you Canadians gave up “Second City TV,” which was outstanding. That said, John Candy was rather slow in the 100 and Eugene Levy sucked.** > > Correction: that should read: > > you Canadians gave us “Second City” TV… \*\* Actually you should just call it “SCTV” as that is what the show’s title was. ---
**Author:** ![L\_Faster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8dc957/32.png) [@L\_Faster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/L_Faster)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653/38 "2001-08-13T01:50:06Z")
Someone mentioned how Carl Lewis had a faster 100 meter split time than Maurice Greene had in the open 100 meter. The reason for this is that Maurice Greene started out of the blocks and was timed once he jumped out of the blocks. Whereas, with Carl Lewis, he was almost at or was at his maximum speed when he got the baton - that is when they would have started timing him (when he got the baton). So it would be normal for the anchor of a 4 x 100 meter team to have a faster split time than someone who had run an open 100 meter. Someone else said that Michael Johnson’s average 100 meter time of his 19.23, 200 meter, was faster than Bailey’s 100 meter time. The reason Michael Johnson ran it faster was that his second 100 meter is faster, because he is at a full sprint (I think someone was saying this, also), but he appears to keep accelerating; this would lower his average 100 meter time even more. ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653/39 "2001-08-13T12:27:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Punoqllads \* > \*\*The fastest man on Earth is The Flash. The fastest man on Earth II is also The Flash, but it’s a different Flash. Unless DC retconned them into the same person while I wasn’t paying attention. \*\* Okay, somebody has to ask it. Who would win in a race, Superman or the Flash? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fastest-person-on-earth/75653.md?page=1)