Could Asia's fastest man Su Bingtian run faster than Usain Bolt? 3D simulation shockingly reveals how a race between the two would go

Could Asia's fastest man Su Bingtian run faster than Usain Bolt? 3D simulation shockingly reveals how a race between the two would go

Mark Kinyanjui 07:30 - 19.12.2024

A 3D simulation has revealed how a race between both Usain Bolt and Asia's fastest ever man Xu Bingtian would go, and the result was not as straight forward as imagined.

The debate over whether anyone can dethrone Usain Bolt as the undisputed sprinting king is as fierce as ever. Bolt's legacy—defined by unmatched speed, eight Olympic gold medals, and world records in both the 100 and 200 meters—continues to set the standard in track and field.

At the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, Bolt clocked an astonishing 9.58 seconds in the 100 meters, setting an average speed of 23.35 mph.

 His dominance extended to the 200 meters with a world record of 19.19 seconds. However, a recent 3D simulation has reignited discussions by comparing Bolt to Xu Bingtian, Asia’s fastest man.

Xu Bingtian has steadily climbed the ranks of elite sprinters. He made history as the first Asian-born sprinter to break the 10-second barrier in the 100 meters.

 His personal best of 9.83 seconds, achieved at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, places him among the top 15 fastest men in the event's history. Notably, Xu set the fastest 30-meter (3.73 seconds) and 60-meter (6.29 seconds) splits ever recorded, showcasing his explosive start.

Xu’s rise has been marked by consistent achievements, including a silver medal at the 2018 World Indoor Championships and a bronze in the 4×100 meter relay at the Tokyo Olympics. 

While he finished sixth in the 100-meter final in Tokyo, his 9.98-second performance and his team's national record-equalling relay time of 37.79 seconds cemented his place in the global sprinting elite.

The 3D simulation, conducted by Motion Athlete, set up a hypothetical race between Bolt’s record-breaking 2009 form and Xu’s peak performance. While Bolt ultimately claimed victory, the simulation revealed a fascinating detail: Xu dominated the first 60 meters, leveraging his explosive start to pull ahead.

This isn’t surprising, given Bolt’s historical tendency to lag in the early stages before unleashing his top-end speed. By the 70-meter mark, Bolt’s superior stride length and acceleration took over, allowing him to win by a considerable margin.

While the simulation underscores Xu’s incredible short-distance prowess, Bolt’s combination of power, speed, and endurance remains unmatched over 100 meters. However, Xu’s achievements highlight a narrowing gap between sprinters of African descent and those from other regions, signaling a potential shift in the sprinting landscape.

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