The 13 Greatest Olympic Sprinters of All Time

Speed demons and record-breakers from across the decades — from iconic podium moments to sprinting legends who redefined what was possible. Who is the greatest?

1

Usain Bolt

Jamaican sprinter who set world records in the 100m (9.58s) and 200m (19.19s), winning 8 Olympic gold medals across 2008, 2012, and 2016.

1000pts

2

Carl Lewis

American sprinter who won 9 Olympic gold medals including the 100m in 1984, widely considered one of the greatest track and field athletes ever.

833pts

3

Andre De Grasse

Canadian sprinter who won the 200m gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, becoming one of the sport's biggest stars.

799pts

4

Maurice Greene

American sprinter who won the 100m gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was a dominant force in sprinting in the late 1990s.

727pts

5

Florence Griffith-Joyner

Known as Flo-Jo, the American sprinter set 100m and 200m world records at the 1988 Seoul Olympics that still stand today.

666pts

6

Donovan Bailey

Canadian sprinter who won the 100m gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and set a world record of 9.84 seconds, reclaiming the title from the USA.

666pts

7

Noah Lyles

American sprinter and reigning 100m Olympic champion from the 2024 Paris Olympics who recently broke the 150m world record in 2026.

605pts

8

Michael Johnson

American sprinter who won gold in both the 200m and 400m at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, setting world records in iconic gold shoes.

533pts

9

Linford Christie

British sprinter who won the 100m gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the oldest man to win the Olympic 100m at 32 years old.

532pts

10

Tommie Smith

American sprinter who won the 200m gold at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and raised a black-gloved fist in one of the most iconic Olympic protests ever.

532pts

11

Jesse Owens

American sprinter who famously won 4 gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, defying Nazi racial ideology with his athletic dominance.

444pts

12

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

Jamaican sprinter who won the 100m gold at four Olympic Games (2008, 2012, 2016, 2024), the most decorated female sprinter in Olympic history.

444pts

13

Allyson Felix

American sprinter who became the most decorated US track and field athlete in Olympic history with 11 medals across 200m, 400m, and relay events.

444pts