IT’S A NEW WORLD RECORD: RESEARCH REVEALS
USAIN BOLT COULD HAVE RAN 100M IN 9.42 SECONDS
RESEARCH REVEALS USAIN BOLT COULD HAVE RAN 100M IN 9.42 SECONDS
New research reveals that with PUMA’s current day innovation, the
fastest man of all time may have ran even faster
Study estimates Bolt could have ran 100m in 9.42 seconds – a projected
improvement of 0.16 seconds on his existing world record set in Berlin in
2009
Findings continue to showcase PUMA’s role as pioneers of running
innovation
Cape Town, 10 September 2025 – It’s official, the fastest man of all time, Usain Bolt could
potentially have set a new 100m world record – had he worn PUMA’s cutting-edge Forte
NITRO™ track spike.
A new study, performed by world-renowned running industry researcher, Wouter Hoogkamer
and members of the PUMA innovation team, has revealed the Jamaican sprinter may have
eclipsed his existing 100m world record of 9.58 seconds – set in Berlin in 2009 – by 0.16
seconds.
Bolt’s projected finish time of 9.42 seconds would smash his existing world record, cement
his legacy as the greatest athlete of all time and evidence PUMA’s role as trailblazers of
running innovation.
When presented with research, Usain Bolt said, “That’s real fast! I put a lot of pressure on
the spike guys, and throughout the years we adjusted, and did different things. I think in
2012, if I was focused, I would have broken the world record (9.58) in the spikes I was
wearing then.”
Set to be published this week ahead of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025, the
research analysed how the Forte NITRO™ – the spike worn by the reigning world’s fastest
woman, Julien Alfred – performed versus a variety of track spikes, including those worn by
Bolt in 2009, and how PUMA’s industry-leading NITROFOAM™ ELITE and PWRPLATE
improved propulsion.
“This time improvement isn’t just a number, it’s evidence of how PUMA is pioneering the
future of fast.” said Romain Girard, VP Innovation at PUMA.
Following the release of groundbreaking research in road running earlier this year to support
the launch of the Fast-R NITRO™ Elite 3, this new track-based study enhances PUMA’s
reputation as leaders of innovation.
The full study is set to be published in the coming days.