What does it take and can anyone become "Worlds Fastest Man"?

I think it's whoever had the fastest time of the year. then that person keeps the title going into the next season until someone else can beat it.

but even if you beat the world's fastest man in the same season he just set his top time, you can't take the title unless the time was faster than his. BUT, if it's next season and he's just defending his title from last year and you beat him without beating his fastest time from last year, you still take the title from him...at least that's what I think my view is

If you train hard, eat right, have faith, the sky is the limit. Too many people put unwarranted limitations on themselves. Almost anyone can develope themselves into a world class athelete if they have the desire. Look at Americans now, fat and lazy for the most part. I hear them on this board talking about the "unbeatible Africans" well if you got off the computer and started traing just as hard as the Africans, you would see the same results.

Had I had the foresight to train intelligently, I believe I would have run around 9.90. (knowing what I know now)

I don't like when people do papers on running, I hate when they come on here looking for info.

I hate when college professors use comma splices.

It takes choosing the right parents, followed by an interest in sprinting and some hard work.

No, everyone cannot do it. Most people would be lucky to break 13 out of blocks.

You name is very telling. Maybe thats why you limit yourself

I new a guy on my HS team whos parents were both obese. He ran a 10:42 3200m. Goes to show you what hard work and belief can do

... I don't think a 10:42 is impressive at all to show hard work maybe if it was sub 10

Well it is if you saw his parents. The point is he trained harder than anyone esle on the team and who knows how fast he would have been had he continued in college. So choosing your parents is irrelivent. Hard work + intelligent traing + diet + self belief = world class times

Sure, maybe it's laziness that hampers our ability. But the fact of the matter is that the proportions of fast and slow-twitch fibers and mitochondrial development are inherited through genetics. Not everyone can be world class, but the average person can become sub-elite with serious training.

lacky wrote:

I think it's whoever had the fastest time of the year. then that person keeps the title going into the next season until someone else can beat it.

but even if you beat the world's fastest man in the same season he just set his top time, you can't take the title unless the time was faster than his. BUT, if it's next season and he's just defending his title from last year and you beat him without beating his fastest time from last year, you still take the title from him...at least that's what I think my view is

haha woops, I thought you were asking, "what does it MEAN to be the world's fastest man."

Maybe... wrote:

Not everyone can be world class, but the average person can become sub-elite with serious training.

No way. I've got better than average foot speed (relay split 51 in high school, probably a little faster now), and there is no way that I could go faster than MAYBE 10.8 coming out of blocks.

Maybe... wrote:

Not everyone can be world class, but the average person can become sub-elite with serious training.

Of course everyone can be sub elite. Everyone who isn't elite is less than elite, or sub elite.

\"Almost anyone [could] develop into a world class athlete\"? BULLpucky.

At least 80% (if not more) of the determination of one\'s upper limit in athletic potential is the sheer luck of the genetic draw.

If one isn\'t born with just the perfect physique, composition, metabolism, etc., all the hard work and determination in the world will not get him/her to world class level.

That said.... Kudos to all those who are dealt a lesser hand and work their way up to a very high level. I admire them, and I empathize with their frustration of still not being able to beat a lazier but more genetically gifted opponent.

Your belief about \"woulda/coulda/shoulda\" run a hypothetical 9.9 only tells us that either (a) you are MUCH luckier than you realize in the genetic lottery, or (b) you have a rather unrealistic image of your real potential.

Almost anyone [could] develop into a world class athlete"? BULLpucky.

At least 80% (if not more) of the determination of one's upper limit in athletic potential is the sheer luck of the genetic draw.

If one isn't born with just the perfect physique, composition, metabolism, etc., all the hard work and determination in the world will not get him/her to world class level.

That said.... Kudos to all those who are dealt a lesser hand and work their way up to a very high level. I admire them, and I empathize with their frustration of still not being able to beat a lazier but more genetically gifted opponent.

Your belief about "woulda/coulda/shoulda" run a hypothetical 9.9 only tells us that either (a) you are MUCH luckier than you realize in the genetic lottery, or (b) you have a rather unrealistic image of your real potential.

___________________________________________________________

Was Christopher Lemaitre born with the perfect sprinters body? No he isnt. But he doesnt let doubt enter his mind. He doesnt let the genetic excuse cloud his determination.

Even Bob Kennedy said in Runners World that "American dont put it on the line enough in practice." What does that tell you? I't should tell you that most Americans dont train hard enough and thats why they dont succeed in the distances.

I dont know where you get the 80% number from, but a guy like Ryan Hall would probably say its more like 20%. He doesnt let the negitvity effect his outlook on what he believes he can do.

T&FN list

The Top 10 Men’s

Combination Sprinters Ever

(compiled by Jim Rorick; based on original research by Justin Clouder)

(as of September 6, 2010)

The 100, 200 & 400 scored on the IAAF Tables. For those athletes whose

careers spanned the switch from hand to automatic timing, we have used

converted hand times (*) in a few instances. Indoor and altitude marks are also used.

Top 10

3893 Usain Bolt ........ 9.58 (1374)........... 19.19 (1356) ........... 45.28 (1163)

3817 Michael Johnson ...10.09 (1182)........... 19.32 (1335) ........... 43.18 (1300)

3813 Tyson Gay ......... 9.69 (1332)........... 19.58 (1293) ........... 44.89 (1188)

3712 Xavier Carter .....10.00 (1215)........... 19.63 (1286) ........... 44.53 (1211)

3687 Mike Marsh ........ 9.93 (1241)........... 19.73 (1270) ........... 45.08 (1176)

3685 Asafa Powell ...... 9.72 (1320)........... 19.90 (1243) ........... 45.94 (1122)

3679 Wallace Spearmon .. 9.96 (1230)........... 19.65 (1282) ........... 45.22 (1167)

3653 Obadele Thompson .. 9.87 (1263)........... 19.97 (1233) ........... 45.38 (1157)

3646 Frank Fredericks .. 9.86 (1267)........... 19.68 (1278) ........... 46.28 (1101)

3626 Dennis Mitchell ... 9.91 (1248)........... 20.09 (1214) ........... 45.26 (1164)

(10)