These are the fastest athletes in the world
Djokovic leaves Haaland, but one boils them all
What if the fastest sports stars in their field competed in a 100m sprint? The winner isn’t surprising, but the lower places are even more exciting.
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His rhythm remains untouchable: Usain Bolt.
What makes the best athletes in the world? Sure, convincing technique and a great understanding of the game are essential in most sports. But what does it take to reach the ball before the defender, carry the ball unmolested into the end zone, or scrape the ball across the court in tennis? Decent pace.
The Spanish “Marca” wanted to find out which sports star is the fastest. To do this, they pitted Usain Bolt, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Tyreek Hill and Novak Djokovic in a simulated 100m sprint. Spoiler alert: no one can hold a candle to the fastest man alive. Bolt’s fairy tales of 9.58 seconds over 100m and a top speed of 44.72km/h remain unrivaled.
Mbappe vor Haaland
The race is much more closely contested for the best of the others. NBA star Russell Westbrook finished seventh, measuring 34.76 mph on the floor. However, there is a clear winner in the private duel Mbappé against Haaland, the proclaimed football rulers of the next few years. While the French finished on the podium at 38km/h (measured in 2019 in the match against AS Monaco), the ManCity striker ranked just ahead of Westbrook (36km/h).
The sports in a 100m sprint compared
- Usain Bolt (age 36, athletics): 44.72 km/h – 9.58 seconds
- Kylian Mbappé (24, football): 38.02 km/h – 11 seconds
- Jonah Lomu (✝40, Rugby): 37.44 km/h – 11.1 seconds
- Tyreek Hill (28, American football): 37.2 km/h – 11.2 seconds
- Novak Djokovic (35, tennis): 36.02 km/h – 11.5 seconds
- Erling Haaland (22, football): 36 km/h – 11.6 seconds
- Russell Westbrook (34, basketball): 34.76 km/h – 12.01 seconds
- Usain Bolt (age 36, athletics): 44.72 km/h – 9.58 seconds
- Kylian Mbappé (24, football): 38.02 km/h – 11 seconds
- Jonah Lomu (✝40, Rugby): 37.44 km/h – 11.1 seconds
- Tyreek Hill (28, American football): 37.2 km/h – 11.2 seconds
- Novak Djokovic (35, tennis): 36.02 km/h – 11.5 seconds
- Erling Haaland (22, football): 36 km/h – 11.6 seconds
- Russell Westbrook (34, basketball): 34.76 km/h – 12.01 seconds
In tennis, top speeds are difficult to measure due to short sprint distances, but Tennis Australia tackled this problem in 2016. The first: Novak Djokovic. With its 36.02 km/h it is “just” enough for fifth place in a sporting comparison. On the court, however, he was the pacemaker by a clear margin. He left behind his eternal rivals Rafael Nadal (12th at 26.84 km / h) and Roger Federer (17th at 26.03 km / h). Today, however, the wild youngsters around “Speed Demon” Alex de Minaur and Carlos Alcaraz should have a say in terms of speed. (smiles)
The fastest tennis players
1. Novak Djokovic: 36.02 km/h
2. Andy Murray: 34.87 km/h
3. Lleyton Hewitt: 31.24 km/h
4. Gilles Simon: 30.76 km/h
5. Grigor Dimitrov: 28.91 km/h
6. David Ferrer: 27.82 kilometers per hour
7. Stan Wawrinka: 27.66 km/h
8. Tomas Berdych: 27.28 km/h
9. Milos Raonic: 27.28 km/h
10. Kei Nishikori: 27.17 km/h
12. Rafael Nadal: 26.84 km/h
17. Roger Federer: 26.03 km/h
(2016 data)
1. Novak Djokovic: 36.02 km/h
2. Andy Murray: 34.87 km/h
3. Lleyton Hewitt: 31.24 km/h
4. Gilles Simon: 30.76 km/h
5. Grigor Dimitrov: 28.91 km/h
6. David Ferrer: 27.82 kilometers per hour
7. Stan Wawrinka: 27.66 km/h
8. Tomas Berdych: 27.28 km/h
9. Milos Raonic: 27.28 km/h
10. Kei Nishikori: 27.17 km/h
12. Rafael Nadal: 26.84 km/h
17. Roger Federer: 26.03 km/h
(2016 data)
