The 100m World Record Before Usain Bolt
Before Usain Bolt, the men's 100m world record was 9.86 seconds, set by Donovan Bailey in 1996. This mark stood for years as the fastest time ever recorded in the event.
How the Record Was Broken Before Bolt
Tim Montgomery ran 9.78 seconds in 2002, but the result was later invalidated due to a doping violation. After that, Asafa Powell lowered the record to 9.77 and then 9.74 seconds in 2005 and 2006.
Usain Bolt's Record and Context
Usain Bolt first broke the previous record with 9.72 seconds in 2008, then lowered it further to 9.69 and 9.58 seconds. The progression shows how the pre-Bolt record of 9.86 seconds was a benchmark that sprinters worked to surpass.
